GATE 2026: Malaysia sets sights on becoming ASEAN’s next automotive and mobility powerhouse

GATE 2026 opened at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) in Kuala Lumpur on 26 August 2026, with organisers and government officials pushing for deeper localisation and technology transfer to turn Malaysia into an ASEAN hub for next‑generation mobility. The three‑day expo runs until 28 August and combines an exhibition with a conference track aimed at connecting international suppliers, OEMs and local industry.

The opening ceremony was officiated by YB Tuan Sim Tze Tzin, Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, and included the exchange of multiple Memoranda of Understanding between foreign and Malaysian companies. Organisers said the MOUs are intended to accelerate supply‑chain development, investment and access to international markets by linking global technology with local manufacturing capacity.

GATE is co‑organised by the Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii) and event specialist Derrisen Sdn Bhd. The show returns for its second edition, staged nine months after its November 2025 debut, and brings together vehicle makers, component suppliers, software and charging providers, investors and research bodies from Malaysia, ASEAN and overseas.

At the launch, the Deputy Minister framed the event as an opportunity for partnerships that deliver durable economic value. “Malaysia welcomes partnerships that deliver long‑term value to our economy,” he said, adding that collaborations should go beyond market access to include research and development, technology transfer and higher‑skilled employment.

MARii’s chief executive, Ts. Azrul Reza Aziz, used the platform to stress that localisation needs to expand past assembly to cover advanced components, engineering, software and intellectual property. He told delegates the priority is tangible outcomes — local vendor development, technology transfer, and high‑value investment that create skilled jobs.

The exhibition features national carmakers PROTON and PERODUA as Platinum Partners, with GWM named a Gold Partner and Siemens on board as Strategic Digital Industry Partner; organisers noted Siemens’ first appearance at GATE. Other exhibitors include Multi‑Code Electronics Industries, EP Manufacturing Berhad and Beijing Jingwei Hirain Technologies.

Cross‑border technology showcases are a visible theme: Malaysian charging‑equipment maker Swift Bridge Technologies is co‑displaying smart EV charging and energy solutions with China’s Xi’an Linchr New Energy Technology. The event also hosts dedicated pavilions from investment and enterprise agencies such as the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) and the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP).

The GATE Conference, co‑organised by MARii and MIDA, runs alongside the trade show and covers digital innovation, sustainable electrification, investment, deeper localisation and talent development. Programming highlights include GATE CONNECT — procurement briefings from OEMs (confirmed participants include GWM, Jetour and Chery) — and the GATE ASEAN Mobility Forum organised by the Electric Vehicle Association of Malaysia (EVAM).

Business matching is being amplified with AI‑assisted meeting scheduling and buyer programmes aimed at strengthening ASEAN supply chains. Education and skills initiatives at the show include the NxGV Challenge national bootcamp and a hybrid/AV engineering competition delivered in partnership with MARii, PERODUA and SAE Malaysia to support the national EV policy.

Organisers pointed out that Malaysia’s automotive sector remains a significant part of the economy, contributing roughly 5% to gross domestic product and supporting a wide network of manufacturers, vendors and skilled workers. GATE 2026 is being held alongside E‑Mobility Asia and Sustainability Environment Asia to link automotive technology with electrification and environmental solutions.

Admission to the exhibition is free with mandatory online registration. For event details and registration, organisers direct visitors to the official GATE website: www.gatexpo.my and the registration portal at https://www.gate-registration.lively.com.my/register/gate-ema/.

Derrisen’s project director Vicky Tan described the MOU exchanges as evidence of the expo’s matchmaking role: the platform brings international technology leaders and Malaysian companies together with the explicit aim of turning discussions into concrete business and industrial outcomes.