Datuk Francis Lee, the Executive Director of BCorp said that the collaboration would surely propel Malaysia’s reputation as one of the regional hubs for the manufacturing, assembly and distribution of automobiles around the region. He said "We are preparing to approach the Malaysian government to apply for the car manufacturing licence. We hope the government will be open to this idea as BYD Auto is a leading car manufacturer and this represents multiple opportunities for the local car industry,"
Speaking at the BYD Auto Headquarters in Shenzhen, he added that he hoped an agreement with BYD could be wrapped up by the year end where a feasibility study will be conducted on converting the left-hand drive F0 to a right-hand drive version.
Lee added that "Currently, negotiations are ongoing. If successful, Berjaya will build the manufacturing plant at a 100-acre site in Bukit Tagar, Selangor, and we anticipate completion within two to three years. We will take things one step at a time. Eventually, we will bring in more BYD Auto models, including new energy vehicles,"
Under the revised National Automotive Policy, the Malaysian government will no longer approve anymore car manufacturing licenses for models above 1.8 liters. Paul Lin, the Manager of BYD Auto’s Marketing department said "Right-hand drive passenger cars make up about 15 per cent of the global passenger car market with the Asean market accounting for over one million vehicle units. For BYD Auto it is an opportunity to leverage on BCorp's experience and expertise in the motor industry as well as the competitive car market in Malaysia and neighbouring countries to expand market share and develop a more global presence,"
In China, BYD’s best selling models are its F0 and F3 and is fourth in the top-sellers there behind Volkwagen, GM and Toyota. The company is financially backed by Warren Buffet and is currently working on the F3DM model, which is pretty much a hybrid model while the e6, which is a purely electric vehicle which will be launched soon.
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