BYD Malaysia confirms local assembly plans in Kulim, appoints Sime Motors' Inokom as CKD partner

BYD Malaysia has officially appointed Inokom Corporation Sdn. Bhd. (Inokom), a subsidiary of Sime Motors, as its local assembly partner. The company operates a vehicle assembly plant in Kulim, Kedah, where BYD plans to carry out local assembly (CKD) operations.

The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at BYD's global headquarters in Shenzhen, China.

The agreement was signed by Liu Xueliang, General Manager of BYD's Asia-Pacific Auto Sales Division, and Dato' Jeffri Salim Davidson, Group CEO of Sime. Among those witnessing the signing were BYD Malaysia Managing Director Jacob Ma and Sime Motors Southeast Asia Managing Director Jeffrey Gan.

Inokom to support BYD's local assembly plans

BYD said it selected Inokom after assessing demand in the Malaysian market and the country's existing manufacturing capacity. Inokom's experience in vehicle assembly, technical workforce and established facilities were among the factors behind the decision.

BYD Malaysia Managing Director Jacob Ma said local assembly was an important part of the company's long-term commitment to Malaysia.

He explained that working with Sime and using Inokom's facilities would allow BYD to tap into Malaysia's existing automotive manufacturing capabilities, while bringing its expertise in new energy vehicles and battery technology closer to the local market.

The partnership is also expected to contribute to the development of Malaysia's automotive industry.

Sime Group CEO Dato' Jeffri Salim Davidson said BYD's decision to partner with Sime reflected the strength of Malaysia's automotive manufacturing capabilities.

He added that the collaboration could support the wider automotive industry, including the development of local supply chains, beyond vehicle assembly itself.

Which BYD models will be assembled locally?

BYD has yet to announce which models will be assembled at Inokom's Kulim plant. Further details of the CKD programme, including the models involved and the next stages of the partnership, will be announced at a later date.