Bermaz Auto looking to add a Chinese EV brand to its line-up, reportedly talking to Xpeng, Dongfeng, Geely

Bermaz Auto looking to add a Chinese EV brand to its line-up, reportedly talking to Xpeng, Dongfeng, Geely

Bermaz Auto (BAuto) is reportedly looking into expanding into the electric vehicle (EV) segment with the addition of a Chinese EV brand to its portfolio. According to Affin Hwang Investment Bank (AHIB), the company is said to be engaging with several China EV automakers for EV distribution rights in Malaysia.

In a report, the investment bank said that BAuto was interested in bringing in a pure EV player to make it its main EV brand, and was said to be making overtures to brands such as Xpeng, Dongfeng and Geely. It said that BAuto’s strategy to tie up with a Chinese pure EV player as its primary EV brand is the right move, but added that securing distribution rights wasn’t a given.

“Any successful tie up with any of these larger Chinese EV players would be a plus for BAuto, but existing automotive players in the country may also be seeking such strategic plans, and thus it may be challenging (for BAuto), especially going up against the bigger players with a stronger financial position and distribution network,” the report said.

Bermaz Auto looking to add a Chinese EV brand to its line-up, reportedly talking to Xpeng, Dongfeng, Geely

Should this not materialise, AHIB said that shifting its focus into lower price segments would allow BAuto plenty of space to maneouvre.

“Nevertheless, given the breadth of Chinese EV brands, affordable EV brands like Hozon or Wuling can cater the low to mid-income group and most importantly become a volume driver for the company’s EV segment. This could be an interesting proposition, in our view,” the report said.

It should be noted that Chinese automaker Hozon already has representation in the country, with GoAuto already bringing in the Neta V crossover via its wholly-owned Intro Synergy subsidiary. As for Wuling, the Mini EV – which is sold in its updated Air form in Indonesia – was spotted in the country last year, and while the brand isn’t in the market yet, it has been reported previously that Tan Chong Motor Holdings (TCMH) was set to become the brand’s custodian in Malaysia.

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Anthony Lim

Anthony Lim believes that nothing is better than a good smoke and a car with character, with good handling aspects being top of the prize heap. Having spent more than a decade and a half with an English tabloid daily never being able to grasp the meaning of brevity or being succinct, he wags his tail furiously at the idea of waffling - in greater detail - about cars and all their intrinsic peculiarities here.

 

Comments

  • Kamarudin on May 09, 2023 at 5:53 pm

    Please lah, update CX 5 and bring in CX 60 1st

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 25
    • Abang Joy on May 09, 2023 at 10:08 pm

      Cx50 looks better

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 11
    • Why buy mazda when CX5 and CX60 already dated for interior.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 3
    • Geuox on May 10, 2023 at 1:07 am

      Xpeng better than Mazda. At least Xpeng looks more sleeker than Mazda

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 20 Thumb down 6
      • Keyboard warrior on May 10, 2023 at 1:35 pm

        Malaysians in general have such a bad taste in cars. Paultan readers in particular

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 12
        • Tropical on May 10, 2023 at 3:49 pm

          Well, mercedes fanboys are the ones who started to badmouthing other cars without any evidence and no knowledge. Yet, sorry to say, mercedes fanboys always have keeping their denied any wrongdoings as if mercedes fanboys are thinking that they are always correct, as they done not only in paultan but everywhere

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 1
          • Keyboard warrior on May 10, 2023 at 10:54 pm

            I dont care about Mercedes fanboys. The one that is silly here people saying chinese cars looks better than Mazda. Disgusting i must say

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 12
          • This keyboard warrior have bad taste

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 2
  • Pocoyo on May 09, 2023 at 6:20 pm

    Bermaz as an organization is straight up trash. These startup EV brands will be dead if EV is not trendy in Malaysia

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 7
    • Celup King on May 10, 2023 at 12:26 am

      Geely should stick to Proton and not give an inch to them, see how Bermaz/Naza killed or killing their automotive brands.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 1
  • Zeekr X on May 09, 2023 at 7:08 pm

    Someone should bring in Zeekr

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 1
  • Tiger Foo and Winnie Poh on May 09, 2023 at 7:51 pm

    You looking for easy money no need customer service like legal scammers after few years oh we no more deal with this brand. Better buy Japanese

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 11
  • Bermaz already terkencing dalam seluar dah. All major chinese EV has been secured by other companies. Too little too late. Lagi pon why so tamak one? Mazda waiting list pon panjang. Better to focus on their current line up first. Like reducing the waiting period first. Kia & peugeot for sure got many interesting EV coming up too.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 1
  • Geuox on May 10, 2023 at 1:08 am

    Xpeng better than Mazda

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 2
  • A Proud Wumao on May 10, 2023 at 9:21 am

    China EV cars are the Best in the world

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 3
  • Mmg dah patut. Ada staff bermaz ckp, mazda japan berlagak. Dia xpandang pon market malaysia yg ciput. Even dia rasa yg diorg boleh jual sendiri. Xperlu pon bermaz.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
    • Pocoyo on May 11, 2023 at 7:00 am

      Mazda Japan berlagak atau bermaz yang benak? Apa jual kereta harga ratus ribu letak carpet murah? Bagus la kalau Mazda Japan jual sendiri tanpa bermaz. Syarikat macam bermaz tu layak kena bom

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Why Malaysia? Go Singapore

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
  • Why Malaysia? Go Singapore better

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • sayangmalaysia on May 24, 2023 at 11:20 am

    Don’t la bring in mahal mahal punya model. Bring in thoseChinese Mini EV also like the GM-Wuling EV or that new Panda EV

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
 

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