BYD shelves plans for local assembly plant in Tanjung Malim

BYD Malaysia has announced it will not move forward with plans for a completely knocked-down assembly plant in Tanjung Malim, Perak. Managing director Jacob Ma stated the decision was made due to a shift in strategy aimed at finding the most suitable solution for the local automotive ecosystem. Discussions with local vendors are ongoing, with the company wanting to align its operations with the regional automotive landscape.

Current vehicle stocks are considered sufficient, although supplies of certain models may be limited. BYD is working closely with distributors to ensure customer needs are met. The company has not ruled out importing vehicles from Indonesia if demand for specific models cannot be met by existing stocks. BYD's production capacity planning should be viewed over a long-term horizon of 10 to 20 years.

The company sold over 35,000 vehicles since its introduction in Malaysia, with more than 7,500 units sold in the first half of this year alone. BYD's vice-president Liu Xueliang mentioned that the company will continue exploring cooperation with local partners to support Malaysia's new energy vehicle industry. The decision to abandon the Tanjung Malim plant came after it became apparent that the project had stalled in March.

The Malaysian government announced a minimum import value of RM200,000 for fully imported electric vehicles starting July, following concerns about BYD's manufacturing license and related policies. In May, reports emerged that BYB was considering a contract assembly partnership with Sime Motors Inokom plant in Kulim, Kedah, as part of its evolving local manufacturing strategy in Malaysia.