JAC TO LOCALLY ASSEMBLE MALAYSIA’S FIRST PHEV PETROL AND BEV PICKUP TRUCKS

Evolvelectric Motors Sdn Bhd, JAC’s pickup truck distributor in Malaysia, has entered into an agreement with FT Assembly Sdn Bhd (FTA), a wholly owned subsidiary of Feytech Holdings Berhad (Feytech), to locally assemble JAC’s T9 Diesel, Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle petrol (PHEV) and Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV)  pickup trucks in Malaysia.

The agreement marks a significant milestone for JAC in Malaysia, with the locally assembled T9 PHEV and BEV set to become the country’s “first” locally assembled PHEV and BEV pickup trucks. The move also expands Malaysia’s local vehicle assembly capabilities into light commercial New Energy Vehicle (NEV) segment while supporting greater participation across the country’s automotive manufacturing and supply chain ecosystem.

Under the phased Completely Knocked Down (CKD) programme, the T9 PHEV petrol will lead the local assembly programme, followed by the T9 Diesel then BEV models. Production is expected to commence in November 2026, with an estimated annual production capacity of 3,000 units in the first year.

FTA has invested RM3.6 million to establish the local assembly facility for JAC at Feytech’s manufacturing facility in Kulim, Kedah with potential investment of up to RM8 million in next three years. Spanning approximately 84,000 sqft,  the facility is equipped with key capabilities, including vehicle assembly, inspection, testing and quality-control facilities to support the production of JAC’s next-generation pickup trucks.

The establishment of the assembly facility is expected to generate RM230million in economic value annually, create employment  opportunites and support the development of the local supply chain ecosyetem.

The investment also establishes a platform for FTA to expand its vehicle assembly capabilities and explore opportunities to support additional automotive brands in the future. This represents a strategic step in broadening FTA’s participation in vehicle manufacturing while strengthening its capabilities across the wider automotive value chain.

The CKD programme is targetting local content of up to 30%. It is also expected to contribute to the development of local manufacturing capabilities and technical expertise in electrified-vehicle assembly, supporting the continued evolution of Malaysia’s automotive ecosystem.

According to Mr Lau Yit Mun, Chief Executive Officer of Evolvelectric Motors, the CKD programme marks an important step in JAC’s long-term development in Malaysia.

“While Japanese and American manufacturers have chosen to produce their pickup trucks in Thailand, JAC Pickup together with Evolvelectric Motors is building a stronger foundation in Malaysia by producing its pickup trucks locally. The T9 PHEV petrol will lead our phased CKD programme, followed by the Diesel and BEV models. JAC is also exploring opportunities to export pickup trucks from Malaysia, subject to favourable conditions,” he said.

Built on JAC’s third-generation international platform, the T9 combines the functionality of a 4×4 pickup truck with enhanced stability, comfort and safety for both commercial and private use.

The T9 PHEV petrol is currently the only PHEV pickup truck available in Malaysia. It offers  a range of up to 1,000km of range (petrol and battery combined), torque of up to 1,000 Nm of from its dual-motor system and ADAS 2.0, and has achieved  a five-star Australasian New Car Assesment Program (ANCAP) safety rating . The Completely Bulit-up CBU T9 PHEV petrol will be introduced to the Malaysian market in early November 2026.

Ms Connie Go, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Feytech Holdings Berhad, said the JAC project represents an important milestone in the Group’s manufacturing journey.

“The JAC project marks an important milestone in Feytech’s journey from an automotive component manufacturer to a CKD assembly partner,” she said.

“Through FTA, we are expanding our capabilities into light commercial vehicle assembly and establishing a disciplined assembly process that will strengthen our manufacturing capabilities and broaden our participation across the automotive value chain. We see this as an important platform for Feytech to develop further opportunities in vehicle assembly, automotive modules and other manufacturing activities in the future,” she added.

The partnership between Evolvelectric Motors and FTA brings together JAC’s expertise in light commercial vehicles with Feytech’s established capabilities in automotive components and manufacturing. The collaboration creates a platform for greater local participation in the production of NEV pickup trucks, while supporting the development of Malaysia’s automotive manufacturing and supply chain capabilities.

The locally assembled JAC T9 PHEV petrol is expected to roll out from FTA in Kulim, Kedah, from November 2026 while the BEV model is targeted to begin in January 2027.