BAIC X55II and BJ40 Plus SUVs to be built in Malaysia – EPMB, BAIC sign MoU to explore local assembly

EP Manufacturing (EPMB) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with BAIC International Development to explore the possibility of working together on the local production of BAIC’s BJ40 Plus and X55II SUVs.

In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, the two companies said they would also explore local assembly of future right-hand drive (RHD) ICE and electric vehicles (EVs), and jointly develop BAIC-branded RHD EVs to cater to Malaysia and other Southeast Asian RHD markets.

BAIC is aiming to establish a sales and after-sales service network for its RHD vehicles in Malaysia, and developing a local assembly and production base with EPMB is integral to those plans.

Should both companies reach a definitive agreement, EPMB will undertake the local assembly of the BJ40 Plus, X55II and future BAIC ICE and EV models. The company will also be responsible for producing parts for these vehicles in Malaysia, with the goal of obtaining policy support from the government.

While the filing did not detail where the cars would be assembled, should the deal go through, it could be in Melaka. Last month, EPMB announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary Peps-JV (Melaka) (PJVM) had secured conditional approval for a manufacturing license from the ministry of investment, trade and industry (MITI) to manufacture and assemble four-wheel energy-efficient vehicles (EEVs) and electric vehicles (EVs) in both passenger and commercial categories.

The company said the manufacturing license would enable PJVM to start a manufacturing plant to assemble EEVs, EVs and other related products. According to EPMB Group CEO Ahmad Razlan Mohamed, the company is planning to establish the facility in Pegoh, Melaka.

In December last year, EPMB also announced that it had secured the exclusive right to assemble and distribute a Chinese EV called the Lingbox through a five-year deal that allows EPMB the option of using its own brand name for the EV in the Malaysian and Indonesia markets.

In October 2022, the company also signed an agreement with California-based Saean Group for the joint development and manufacture of four-wheeled EVs. That same month, the company, through its EP Blueshark subsidiary, was also granted a MITI licence to locally assemble electric bikes in Malaysia.

GALLERY: BAIC X55II SUV

GALLERY: BAIC BJ40 Plus SUV

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