BYD Malaysia says no immediate need for Indonesia imports

KUALA LUMPUR: BYD Malaysia does not see an immediate need to import vehicles from Indonesia to supplement its supply in Malaysia, according to the company's managing director, Jacob Ma. Despite Indonesia's ambitious plans to increase production to 150,000 units, Ma stated that the majority of these vehicles are intended for Indonesia's domestic market.

BYD Malaysia's primary focus remains serving its local customers. He added that the company could consider sourcing vehicles from Indonesia if a specific model was unavailable in Malaysia and demand warranted it. However, Ma emphasized that if there was significant demand, BYD would consider it. While 150,000 units may seem substantial, Ma noted that the figure should be viewed in the context of BYD's long-term ambitions, rather than as an immediate production target.

He highlighted that every market is planning for the long term, and BYD is planning for 10 to 20 years ahead. This comment comes as BYD continues to expand its manufacturing presence across Southeast Asia, with Indonesia becoming an increasingly important production hub. For Malaysia, BYD's focus is shifting towards developing a stronger local automotive ecosystem, including localisation and potentially CKD production.

For now, BYD Malaysia appears content with its current supply strategy while it works towards its longer-term plans for local assembly.