SHENZEN (China): Berjaya Corp Bhd (BCorp) plans to set up a manufacturing plant in Malaysia to build right-hand-drive (RHD) vehicles for Chinese carmaker BYD Auto Co Ltd.
Yesterday, both parties signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to develop BYD's RHD F0 1-litre model for the Malaysian and Asean markets.
BCorp executive director Francis Lee said the company will seek a licence from the Malaysian government to set up the plant.
Under the revised National Automotive Policy announced at the end of last year, Malaysia lifted a freeze on car manufacturing licences, but only for models above 1.8 litres.
"We are preparing to approach the Malaysian government to apply for the car manufacturing licence. We have a good case to put on the table," Lee told reporters at the signing ceremony held at BYD's headquarters here.
BYD, which counts famous US investor Warren Buffet among its shareholders, is the fourth biggest carmaker in China by volume, after Volkswagen, General Motors Corp and Toyota.
Last year, BYD sold 450,000 vehicles.
rolex fakeThe tie-up would promote Malaysia as a regional hub in car manufacturing, assembly and distribution.
Lee expressed hopes of finalising a deal with BYD this year.
wholesale colthingThe MOU includes a feasibility study on the conversion of the F0's left-hand-drive version to RHD and related research and development.
If successful, BCorp will build the plant on a 40ha site in Bukit Tagar, Selangor.
The land is part of the 6,480ha that Bcorp bought from French group Soc Fin in the mid-1990s.
There is also an option, initially, to undertake contract assembly of the FO model using an existing plant with excess capacity. BCorp has a 15 per cent stake in Inokom's plant in Kulim, Kedah.
"We will take things one step at a time. Eventually, we will bring in more BYD models, including new energy vehicles," Lee said.
The idea would be for BCorp to tap incentives offered by the local government for green-technology vehicles.
Meanwhile, BYD marketing manager Paul Lin said it hopes to capture 5 per of the RHD passenger car market.
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"RHD passenger cars make up about 15 per cent of the global passenger car market, with Asean accounting for over one million vehicles," he said.
Apart from Asean, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the UK are among countries with RHD markets.
BYD's gas-powered cars, F0 and F3, are China's top sellers.
The Chinese manufacturer of batteries and cars aims to become the market leader in new energy vehicles (EV).
Its EV model, F3DM, operates as a plug-in hybrid vehicle, while the soon-to-be-launched e6 will be the first pure-electric vehicle.
The e6 will be launched in China in the first quarter, and in the US by year-end.
Berjaya Group holds 51 per cent of Changan Berjaya Auto Sdn Bhd, a joint venture with China's ChangAn Auto Co Ltd, to distribute Changan Era cars here.
The group also owns distribution rights for brands such as Mazda, Skoda and Mercedes-Benz.
Berjaya Group also plans
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