During the launch of the new BYD Mansion Macalister 3S centre in Penang, the brand’s 41st branch in the region, BYD Vice President and General Manager of Asia Pacific Auto Sales Division, Liu Xueliang, reiterated the company’s commitment to the Malaysian market, despite the Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry’s (MITI) latest policies for EVs.
In his speech at the launch event, Liu said, “On 20 April, we noticed that the Malaysian government has released new policies regarding new energy vehicles (NEV). As a responsible technology company, we will continue to bring our best technologies and products to Malaysia.”
“Together with the relevant authorities of the Malaysian government and our distributor and dealer partners, we will find the most suitable NEV development solutions for the Malaysian market. With respect to the policies from the Malaysian Government, we hope to use our efforts, our wisdom and our spirit, with the cooperation of all the Malaysian consumers and friends, to continue delivering the best technologies and products to Malaysia,” he added.
As part of their plans for the country, BYD will also be further expanding its footprint into East Malaysia. “Last year, I went to East Malaysia, and I can feel there is a lot of demand from consumers there for BYD technologies and products. I made a promise that we will bring BYD technologies and products to East Malaysia,” Liu said.
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The statement was made in response to the recently-announced directive for EVs from the Malaysian government, which requires all fully imported (CBU) electric vehicles to meet a minimum declared cost, insurance, and freight (CIF) value of RM200,000, along with a minimum power output of 245 hp (180 kW).
Despite the reduction of minimum output requirements down from 272 hp (200 kW) previously, most of BYD’s models on sale here – which are all CBU from China – still do not meet the threshold in both power outputs and declared value, and thus will not be able to be sold here according to the new ruling.
The solution is for BYD to locally assemble their cars in Malaysia. However, as the company is looking to establish its own manufacturing facility here instead of utilising an existing contract manufacturer, the ministry has also imposed an export requirement for the vehicles produced at the new plant – which has reportedly caused discussions to break down between the Chinese marque and the Malaysian government.
READ MORE: How MITI’s latest EV directive actually impacts the industry and you
Liu did not field any questions from the press at the event, but speaking to AutoBuzz.my at the sidelines of the event, Sime Motors Managing Director of Southeast Asia, Jeffrey Gan, said “There are continuous discussions in BYD with the government together with Sime to explore the best direction to ensure sustainability of the brand in Malaysia.”
He declined to comment further when ask about the details for the manufacturing licence. Sime Motors is the official importer and distributor of BYD passenger vehicles in Malaysia.
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