Published on December 8th, 2022 | by Subhash Nair

BYD Sets Up Operations In Malaysia With Sime Darby Motors

BYD shows us their plan for Malaysia with local partners Sime Darby Motors.

China is full of automakers looking to push into the New Energy Vehicle (NEV) market. Leading the charge is BYD – also known as Build Your Dreams. BYD is a pioneer not just in the electric vehicle space but in the area of battery technology. Their Blade Batteries are famous for being safer and more power packed than competing lithium-ion batteries on the market.

Today, BYD officially launched their Atto 3 in Malaysia with partners Sime Darby Motors. At the launch, we got a glimpse at their strategy for Malaysia. Currently, there isn’t a showroom for BYD in Malaysia. By the middle of THIS MONTH they will set up a flagship showroom in TREC KL.Three more will be located at Sime Darby Motors City, Ara Damansara, Penang and in Johor Bahru in the first half of 2023.

By the end of 2023, Sime Darby Motors and BYD expect to have 20 showrooms in Malaysia and by the end of 2024 there will be 40 across the country. Most of these showrooms will be 3S centres. That is some serious investment. RM500 million, to be exact. In terms of CKD plans, nothing has been set in stone but they will plan in accordance to the Malaysian government’s incentives and market conditions. Right now, there is little reason to locally-assemble electric vehicles.

The Sime Darby Motors and BYD partnership is aimed at accelerating the transition to EVs and a low carbon mobility future for Malaysia. This also contributes to the expansion of BYD’s growing global presence.

Andrew Basham, Managing Director of Sime Darby Motors, said, “In line with our aim to be a leader in EV and with a view towards propelling Malaysia’s EV aspirations, we are excited to embark on this new chapter with BYD following our success in Singapore. With half a billion ringgit set to be invested, this will support our aggressive expansion plans for the brand here and reflects our belief in the brand’s universal appeal. BYD’s line up of world-class vehicles which feature premium specs at an attractive price point is set to be a game-changer to spur EV adoption amongst Malaysians.”

Liu Xueliang, General Manager of BYD Asia Pacific Auto Sales Division, commented, “As part of our vision for a sustainable future powered by electrification, we are pleased to strengthen our partnership with Sime Darby Motors to enter the Malaysian market. Drawing on Sime Darby Motors’ proven track record and capabilities as a regional player in the automotive industry, particularly its broad distribution network in Malaysia, combined with BYD’s pioneering technology andexpertise, we strive to deliver our innovative vehicles to Malaysian consumers and support the country’s carbon reduction ambitions.”