BYD appoints Inokom as local assembly partner in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR: Last month, BYD Malaysia MD Jacob Ma confirmed that the company is not going to set up its own manufacturing facility in Tanjung Malim, but will go with a local CKD partner instead. Well, the brand has now announced Inokom Corporation Sdn. Bhd. (Inokom), a subsidiary of Sime Motors based in Kulim, Kedah, as its local assembly partner.

This announcement marks an important step in BYD Malaysia’s plans to locally assemble completely knocked-down (CKD) vehicles in Malaysia. The local assembly operation will support the brand’s local growth strategy and commitment to Malaysia.

To formalise the collaboration, both parties have signed a Memorandum of Understanding at BYD's global headquarters in Shenzhen, China. It was signed by Liu Xueliang, Vice President of BYD and General Manager of BYD Asia Pacific Auto Sales Division, and Dato’ Jeffri Salim Davidson, Group Chief Executive Officer of Sime.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by representatives including Jacob Ma, Managing Director of BYD Malaysia, and Jeffrey Gan, Managing Director of Southeast Asia, Sime Motors.

“Local assembly is an important part of BYD's long-term commitment to Malaysia. Partnering with Sime to assemble at Inokom allows us to build on established automotive manufacturing capabilities as we progress our local assembly plans. We aim to bring BYD's expertise in new energy vehicles and battery technologies closer to the Malaysian market while contributing to the continued development of the local automotive industry,” said Jacob Ma, Managing Director of BYD Malaysia.

“This partnership marks another step in BYD's growth in Malaysia alongside BYD Sime Motors. We remain focused on developing our local presence and exploring opportunities to deepen our investment in Malaysia through collaboration with local industry partners,” he added. 

“BYD's decision to partner with Sime reflects the strength of Malaysia's automotive manufacturing capabilities and the expertise we have developed over the years. Our experience in vehicle assembly, supported by an established workforce and local supply chain, provides a strong foundation for this collaboration.”

“Beyond vehicle assembly, partnerships such as this create opportunities to strengthen Malaysia's automotive ecosystem, support local businesses and develop capabilities that can contribute to the industry's long-term growth. We look forward to working with BYD Malaysia to build on these strengths and create greater value for Malaysia's automotive sector,” said Dato’ Jeffri Salim Davidson, Group Chief Executive Officer of Sime.

Further details on the local assembly programme will be shared in due course.

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