Last week, it was reported that BYD planned to reveal its EV development plan for Malaysia this week, answering the long-awaited question of whether local assembly was going to proceed and the route it would take should that happen.
As indicated by BYD vice-president and general manager of its Asia Pacific auto sales division, Liu Xueliang, when asked by reporters whether BYD would work with a local partner or set up its own manufacturing operations here, said that the answer would come within a week.
The answer to that has come, although not in full, with the brand only confirming that it will go the CKD route and that it will not be on its own as originally intended, with the company finally stating that its planned Tanjong Malim facility will not happen. This was revealed by BYD Malaysia MD Jacob Ma last night, during the official introduction of the limited issue BYD Atto 3 Performance.
“To clear the air on this, the Tanjong Malim facility will not proceed. However, this decision does not mean that BYD has cancelled its plans for local assembly in Malaysia. Our commitment to local assembly remains,” he told the media at a Q&A session following the launch event.
“We are working with an established local assembly partner that has the capacity and the capabilities to meet BYD’s requirements and can support our full local assembly operations. Discussions are already at a very advanced stage and we are finishing the necessary documentation, and we will make an official announcement once everything is in place,” he said, adding that the identity of the local partner could not be revealed until the deal is inked.
Ma added that while plans might have evolved, the company’s intention remained the same. “We continue to see Malaysia as an important market and strategic part of BYD’s growth in the future. Plans might evolve, locations might change, and strategies might be refined, but what remains constant is our commitment to this market. We will continue to invest. BYD is here to stay. We are here to grow with Malaysia,” he stated.
In August 2025, BYD confirmed plans for its own CKD plant in Tanjong Malim, Perak, but there have been no updates on it in recent times – as of last month, MITI said no official decision had been made on the plant.
Meanwhile, the contract assembly route has been gathering steam, following Liu’s visit to the Sime Motors Inokom plant in Kulim, Kedah in May, which hinted heavily at Sime Motors becoming BYD’s local contract-assembly partner, an arrangement that would sit well with MITI’s preference for EV makers to work with local partners rather than build new factories of their own.
Adding further to that direction, it was reported that Sime Motors’ leadership team visited BYD’s Shenzhen headquarters last week for talks on “strategic priorities and areas of mutual interest.”
BYD Atto 3
from RM125,800 
BYD Seal 6
from RM100,000 
BYD Seal
from RM171,800 
BYD Atto 2
from RM100,000 
BYD Sealion 7
from RM163,800 
BYD M6
from RM109,800 
Soon we might get BYD rebadged similar like INOKOM Atoz, Getz?
Does any of the CKD German car rename to local brand?
Inokom Atto 2, perhaps?
No la… Inokom is just there as the local partner and provide the space for them to use. U dont see mazda got rebadged as inokom right? Even though mazda is ckd in inokom plant
biler BYD nak masuk model hybrid-nya?
Byd setting own plant would increase local employment, accelerate local automotive competition with potential becoming Byd exporting hub.
Oem just mean business as usual for local automotive industry and forget about export.
Much worth and better than Tesla models
this specific type of “m people” are the most dangerous to deal with. Imagine spending billions, only to be backstabbed by the same “people”. Very scary and evil, now China also know this “people” behavior.
Ghani is from UMNO which won by a landslide in both Johor and Negri state elections. If UMNO wins GE, we will see more of him and his “brilliant” ideas. Also Pekan MP will become PM11, Jho Low will receive pardon , another 2mdb.
He ia just a minister executing the policies of his boss ie PMX and if you want get rid all thes stupid PH policies you must get rid of PH gomen and bring back a stable gomen that has brought us automotive industry. Bring back BN!
Previously under the BN government, taxi drivers had to rent the taxi from middlemen (UMNO cronies). I don’t want to go too depth into it, but basically the middlemen made money off the backs of the taxi driver by doing nothing. The taxi drivers had to pay them a monthly fee which was usually very high and they don’t even own the vehicle (taxi)
u stay lo, they will still import from jiran
Are they going to put an Inokom badge on the BYD car?
Correction should be local AP Supplier cronies because according to one previous minister he said that APs can ensure your cars are safe to be sold here Whoa more power than the maker itself.
BYD is progressing steadily in Malaysia thanks to its strong current product offerings.
However, many consumers want to see even stronger features, such as 1500 kW DC fast charging, more variants equipped with BYD’s DiSus Suspension system, DiPilot advanced driver assistance systems, and stronger manufacturer backup.
Any news for BYD M6, or BYD M9 DMi 5th Gen PHEV?
Downfall
Seems like they game the government. Mazimum Profits
Malu la kerajaan. Cannot attract big companies like Tesla and BYD to invest in our country. They’d rather go Indonesia.
Canceled thanks to Madanon gomen. You PH supporters ask for this!
patnership equals to lower investments la, wont properly commit.
Sime Motors is the official authorised agent for BYD in Malaysia. So it makes sense for BYD to deepen the collaboration further by using their plant for CKD.
All Thanks to MITI. BYD will and have set up their MANUFACTURING in Thailand !!!
MITI mentri repot to sape?
MD Jacob Ma:”We are here to kowtow to umno overlords!” umno hve done a really good job in making malaysian chinese kowtow in the past, now they are taking one step further to make the china chinese kowtow, next step we are ruling china!