With the Budget presentation not stating any tax exemption for imported fully built (CBU) electric cars, various automotive brands have embarked on a strategy to ensure that their electric cars can be offered at a lower price through local assembly (CKD). Among the brands that have done this strategy are Volvo, and even BYD, Leapmotor will also assemble their EVs at local locations soon. MG Malaysia, which is known for its electric car models such as the MG4, MGS5 EV, and MG Cyberster, today announced their plans to assemble cars in Malaysia.
Through their joint venture partner EP Manufacturing Berhad, MG Malaysia will assemble electric cars as well as petrol cars as early as Q1 2026. Interestingly, this plant is also the first local assembly plant for MG, outside of China. This assembly plant also serves as a hub for the ASEAN market. They also stated that the first car to be assembled at this plant will be an electric car.
In sharing other statistics, MG also highlighted Malaysia's potential in this collaboration, as Malaysia also ranks first in MG Cyberster sales for the Asia and Oceania markets. With local assembly, this will allow some of the future MG cars to be developed specifically to meet the needs of local consumers, while also developing local talent and the electric vehicle industry.
