KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 22): Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD Company Ltd will set up its first automotive assembling plant in Malaysia in Tanjong Malim, Perak.

KLK Land Sdn Bhd, the property arm of Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd (KL:KLK), said in a statement on Friday that BYD will be the anchor tenant and take up 150 acres of its KLK TechPark in the first phase. Subsequent phases aim to attract vendors and businesses to form a fully fledged automotive ecosystem.

“BYD’s presence in Perak is expected to be a catalyst for Malaysia’s electric vehicle sector,” KLK Land said. “These spillover effects will enable local companies to participate in the global EV supply chain, further advancing Malaysia’s position in the regional automotive landscape.”

The 1,500-acre integrated industrial hub is envisioned by the company, one of the country’s largest palm oil producers, as a hub for advanced manufacturing and green technology. The investment from BYD was secured within a record of three months.

KLK TechPark is a long-term development made possible through close collaboration with the Perak government, said KLK chairman Tan Sri Lee Oi Hian.

“We look forward to [working] with the state government in supporting Perak’s move towards high-value industrialisation and contributing to the state’s socio-economic progress,” he added.