Malaysia to develop 2 new national cars, motorcycle

Dr Mahathir Mohamad expects the Malaysian Vehicle Project to contribute significantly to the nation’s economic development through its support for both the upstream and downstream industries.

(FMT) – The prime minister said the project – which will see the development of two national cars and a national motorcycle – will create a demand for other related materials, such as high-grade steel, plastics, rubber and petrochemical products.

This will stimulate further growth of the sub-sectors, he said at the launch of the National Automative Policy 2020, or NAP 2020, here.

Also present were International Trade and Industry Minister Darell Leiking and his deputy, Ong Kian Ming.

Mahathir said the proposed Malaysian Vehicle Project will emphasise research and development (R&D) and incorporate the latest technologies to be competitive in both the domestic and global markets.

He said new technology clusters as well as expert workforce, especially in the field of automotive engineering, would be developed consequently.

NAP 2020, he said, will support green technology, including the development of standards for testing and research to support the increase in blending of palm oil biodiesel.

“All the emphasis under the NAP 2020 are our commitment to the industry that we, too, are moving in the same direction with other major countries in keeping up with global trends, be it technologically or environmentally,” he said.

Mahathir also said the automotive sector was not limited to car-making as it opened the door to boundless engineering possibilities that could complement other economic sectors.

This was well illustrated by automotive-producing nations where the development of vendors for parts and components production had created a large number of jobs and skilled workforce.

It also generated many business opportunities for small-medium enterprises (SMEs).

“It is within this context that the existence of local automotive industry will continue to spur other opportunities for Malaysians to develop our own engineering capabilities and to enhance our skills and knowledge in technology,” he said.

Mahathir called on all industry players, from the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to local companies, to continue to work together to increase utilisation of local companies in high value-added activities of the domestic as well as global supply chains.

By doing so, he said, the industry can create positive economic spillovers, particularly in transfer of technology and job opportunities, while expanding investments and increasing exports.