Auto parts maker, EP Manufacturing Berhad (EPMB) is aiming to begin its first phase of production at its HICOM Pegoh Industrial Park factory in Melaka by Q3 2024. According to EPMB Group CEO, Ahmad Razlan Mohamed, the company is targeting a production goal of 6,000 units by the end of this year (2024), based on a report by The Malaysian Reserve.
Earlier in January, EPMB via its subsidiary, PEPS JV Melaka (PJVM) signed an agreement with Great Wall Motor (GWM) to locally assemble (CKD) the Chinese carmaker’s vehicles, including the Haval H6 and Jolion SUVs at its Melaka plant. PJVM will be the contract vehicle assembler for GWM for the next eight years and aims to produce 20,000 units of GWM vehicles annually by 2028.
Aside from GWM, PJVM also partnered with China’s BAIC International Development earlier this April for the local production of the Chinese brand’s BJ40 Plus and X55 II SUVs. PJVM will be BAIC’s contract vehicle assembler for the next decade and will have a production target of more than 5,000 vehicles per year by September 1, 2024. The target capacity will ramp up to 10,000 vehicles annually by March next year.
Under this partnership, PJVM will be responsible for providing the necessary equipment and will handle the permits and approvals for the vehicle assembly and manufacturing. BAIC on the other hand will provide PJVM with technical support and training and will be overseeing the assembly process.
RELATED: GWM to begin CKD operations for Haval H6, Jolion in Pegoh, Melaka
EPMB announced in October last year that it would be investing over RM100 million in the construction of its manufacturing plant in Melaka. Upon full operation, the factory is expected to create approximately 1,000 new jobs and will build up to 10,000 vehicles annually in its initial phase.
RELATED: 2024 Haval H6 HEV Hybrid set for Q2 2024 launch in Malaysia
