MAI: 52% Of New Models Are EEV In 2017

52% of the new models introduced in Malaysia last year are certified as Energy Efficient Vehicles (EEV), surpassing Malaysia Automotive Institute’s (MAI) internal target of 50%.  

This is nearly a ten percent increase versus 2016.  According to the Institute, there are 19 OEMs offering EEVs to the Malaysian market.

This information was shared during a media briefing held by MAI on the topic of Automotive Outlook 2018. By 2025, Malaysia Automotive Institute (MAI) expects all new models to be only energy efficient vehicles (EEV).

Dato’ Sri Mustapa Mohamad, Minister of International Trade and Industry (MITI) said “This continuous growth is a signal of growing awareness for EEVs within the Malaysian automotive sphere. The acceptance and awareness of energy efficiency is not a function for a single ministry, but signals the support and participation of all government institutions, automotive OEMs and vendors, as well as the public at large.”

MAI, however, have a lower outlook to the 2018 industry volume, citing a range of 586,000 to 591,000 units of new vehicle sales. This is just about 10,000 units lower than business consulting firm Frost & Sullivan who forecasted 601,000 units.

The briefing which covers mainly the trade and industrial performance of the implementation of NAP 2014 also reported key data in manufacturing, investments and job creation in the automotive industry.

Exports of remanufactured parts and components recorded an increase to RM516.4 million as at November 2017, surpassing the RM510 million achieved in December 2016.

Meanwhile, exports of automotive parts and components (steering columns, bumpers, brakes, weather strip, tyres, seats, cluster panel etc.) are also expected to increase.  

• 2016 - RM11.2 billion
• 2017 - expecting to surpass RM12 billion (October 2017: RM9.3 billion)
• 2018 target – RM 12.5 billion

Since the NAP2014 was announced, 27,125 new jobs were created as at December 2017, which marks nearly a five percent increase compared to 2016. MAI also indicated that 23,444 foreign workers were replaced. A target of 29,641 new jobs have been set for 2018.

As for the participation of Bumiputeras in the after sales sector, 976 workshops underwent business transformation programmes towards higher competitiveness levels.

Dato’ Sri Mustapa further added, “The growth of the automotive industry has created new career opportunities for Malaysians. Certified human capital programmes have been developed by the MAI since 2014, not only to allow faster penetration of skills into the industry, but at the same time address the pertinent issue of foreign worker replacement among industry players.”  

The NAP, first implemented in 2014, is expected to be reviewed and announced in the middle of 2018, with the Minister speaking on the government’s attention to trend developments beyond EEV, such as intelligent mobility, transport systems, vehicle security and green cars technology.