BYD Malaysia is taking another step towards expanding its presence in the country, having appointed Inokom Corporation Sdn. Bhd. (Inokom) as its local assembly partner for plans to produce completely knocked-down (CKD) vehicles in Malaysia. Based in Kulim, Kedah, Inokom is a subsidiary of Sime Motors, bringing established automotive manufacturing facilities, an experienced workforce and existing production capabilities to the partnership. The collaboration was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed at BYD’s global headquarters in Shenzhen, China.
The appointment follows BYD Malaysia’s assessment of the local automotive landscape and available manufacturing capabilities. By working with Inokom, the company intends to build on Malaysia’s existing automotive infrastructure as it moves towards establishing local vehicle assembly operations. For BYD, the partnership represents more than just a new production arrangement. It is part of the company’s broader strategy to strengthen its long-term presence in Malaysia, bringing its expertise in new energy vehicles and battery technology closer to local consumers while supporting the development of the domestic automotive industry.
“Local assembly is an important part of BYD’s long-term commitment to Malaysia. Partnering with Sime to assemble at Inokom allows us to build on established automotive manufacturing capabilities as we progress our local assembly plans,” said Jacob Ma, Managing Director of BYD Malaysia. He added that the company aims to deepen its investment in Malaysia through collaboration with local industry partners, building on the growth it has achieved alongside BYD Sime Motors.
Sime Motors, meanwhile, sees the agreement as an opportunity to demonstrate the strength of Malaysia’s automotive manufacturing sector and create further opportunities throughout the local supply chain. “BYD’s decision to partner with Sime reflects the strength of Malaysia’s automotive manufacturing capabilities and the expertise we have developed over the years. Our experience in vehicle assembly, supported by an established workforce and local supply chain, provides a strong foundation for this collaboration,” said Dato’ Jeffri Salim Davidson, Group Chief Executive Officer of Sime.
He also highlighted the potential benefits beyond vehicle production, noting that partnerships of this nature could help strengthen Malaysia’s automotive ecosystem, support local businesses and develop capabilities that contribute to the industry’s long-term growth. The MoU was signed by Liu Xueliang, Vice President of BYD and General Manager of BYD Asia Pacific Auto Sales Division, alongside Dato’ Jeffri Salim Davidson. The signing ceremony was witnessed by representatives from both organisations, including Jacob Ma and Jeffrey Gan, Managing Director of Southeast Asia, Sime Motors.
With Inokom’s manufacturing experience and BYD’s expertise in electric vehicles and battery technologies, the collaboration establishes a foundation for the Chinese automaker to advance its local assembly ambitions while making greater use of Malaysia’s existing automotive capabilities. However, the announcement remains an initial step towards the planned CKD operations, with further details about the local assembly programme expected to be announced in due course.
