On August 22, Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD and its official distributor in Malaysia Sime Darby Motors announced at an event in Seri Kembangan, Selangor, that they will invest in a new Completely Knocked Down (CKD) assembly plant in Tanjung Malim, Perak, marking an important milestone in BYD’s localization strategy in Malaysia.
In addition to the CKD plant, BYD officially launched the new BYD SEAL (比亚迪海豹) electric sedan in the Malaysian market and, in partnership with Wing Hin Ventures (永兴创投), inaugurated the country’s largest BYD 3S center in Balakong.
According to the official statement, the Tanjung Malim CKD plant will cover an area of around 600,000 square meters and is expected to begin production in 2026. This strategic investment aims to boost EV adoption in Malaysia by making products more competitive and affordable.
At the event, Liu Xueliang (刘学亮), General Manager of BYD’s Asia-Pacific Auto Sales Division, said: “Malaysia has always been one of BYD’s most important markets in Southeast Asia. The announcement of the CKD plan and the launch of the BYD SEAL represent the start of an exciting new chapter for us here.”
He added: “Through our strong partnership with BYD Sime Motors, we are confident in deepening our roots in Malaysia and bringing world-class EV technology to local consumers. Our commitment goes beyond innovative products—we are investing in Malaysia’s EV future, from local assembly and talent development to comprehensive electrified mobility solutions. We look forward to working with Malaysia to accelerate the transition to a greener and smarter transportation future.”
The “triple milestone” announcement—covering the CKD plant plan, the debut of the BYD SEAL, and the opening of the nation’s largest BYD 3S center—demonstrates BYD’s long-term commitment to the Malaysian market and is expected to have a profound impact on the local EV industry landscape.