Malaysia to get a new national car model

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is getting a new national car model, and it will be launched by March 2021, only 18 months after it was announced by the International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Darell Leiking. He also announced that Malaysian engineering firm, DreamEdge Sdn Bhd had been chosen as the lead to anchor the project. 

While talking to the media, Mr. Leiking said, “They (DreamEdge) were chosen because they have a good business model that we believe can work. They have presented their proposal to the Prime Minister, and he is convinced, as long as it (the project) is privately funded and is run by experts from DreamEdge.” DreamEdge executive Khairil Adri Adnan initially commented that the car would be a C-segment sedan. But it has been rectified by the minister who said that it would be a plus size B-segment sedan. He also told that he would deliver the details a bit later Mr. Adnan also added that he is very optimistic about producing the first car in the next 18 months. 

Khairil said that the project cost is going to be “hundreds of millions” and while talking about the manufacturer, he clarified that the manufacturers would be given the assignment on a contractual basis. Apparently, both Nissan and Honda were contacted for the project. Perodua is also linked with the project. It seems to be a logical and feasible option because it is connected with the Daihatsu association and has a production capacity of 70,000 units to spare. 

The national car project is the brainchild of Prime Minister of Tun, Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. He first mentioned the project in June  2018. Talking about the project, the Prime Minister said that it would generate new opportunities from the perspective of local vendors and talents to be a part of the high technology value chain. In a statement released on August 9th, he said,” From the government’s standpoint, the national car project is the nation’s industrialization catalyst to spur meaningful participation of Malaysians in advanced technology adoption. ” 

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