BYD Malaysia has announced a significant leadership transition as part of its broader regional strategy to strengthen operations and sustain momentum in Southeast Asia’s fast-growing electric vehicle (EV) market.

Stepping into a new regional role, Eagle Zhao will now dedicate his efforts as President Director of PT BYD Motor Indonesia. Taking over the reins in Malaysia is Jacob Ma, who has been appointed Managing Director, overseeing both the BYD and DENZA brands.

This transition underscores BYD’s intention to reinforce its leadership bench while positioning Malaysia as a key pillar in its Southeast Asian expansion. During his tenure, Zhao played a central role in building the brand’s presence in the country, guiding the company to deliver over 30,000 vehicles nationwide across both BYD and DENZA line-ups. His leadership also saw the expansion of the dealer network, improvements in aftersales support, and increased adoption of new energy vehicles, helping BYD emerge as one of Malaysia’s fastest-growing EV brands.

Reflecting on his time in Malaysia, Zhao highlighted the strong foundation built alongside partners and teams, expressing confidence that the progress achieved will continue to drive the brands forward.

Taking charge at a pivotal moment, Ma brings a wealth of international experience from BYD’s global headquarters in Shenzhen. His career with BYD includes five years as Head of Training, followed by a leadership role as Vice President of BYD Indonesia, where he contributed to developing global market readiness, retail standards, and organisational capabilities across multiple regions.

Earlier professional experience in consulting and the aviation sector further equipped Ma with expertise in operational transformation and cross-industry collaboration—skills that are expected to support BYD Malaysia’s next phase of growth.

Expressing his enthusiasm, Ma emphasised Malaysia’s importance as a strategic market and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to delivering innovative products and enhancing the overall ownership experience. His leadership will focus on strengthening operational excellence, elevating customer satisfaction, and ensuring sustainable expansion for both BYD and DENZA.

In his new role, Ma will oversee core business functions including strategy, sales, marketing, dealer network development, and aftersales operations. He is also expected to sharpen brand positioning between BYD and DENZA while expanding the product portfolio and reinforcing partnerships across the network.

With this leadership change, BYD Malaysia is signalling a continued push toward advancing electric mobility, while building a future-ready ecosystem aligned with Malaysia’s broader ambitions for sustainable and green transportation.