MELAKA: EP Manufacturing Berhad (EPMB) officially enters the second phase of its Melaka manufacturing facility.
Phase 2 will increase the plant's annual production capacity from the current 6,000 units to 30,000 units a year while also accelerating its transformation from a Tier-1 component supplier into a vertically-integrated vehicle assembly partner for global car brands.
EPMB executive chairman Hamidon Abdullah at the launch said the milestone has only been possible with the trust and collaboration with its OEM partners (GWM, BAIC and SAIC) as well as the dedication and commitment of its employees.
"We are proud to announce the launch of Phase 2 of our automotive production facility in Melaka, which will enable us to significantly ramp production and cater to growing demand for our customers' brands in Malaysia.
"We continue to engage with a growing number of Chinese OEMS that are seeking an assembly and localisation partner in Malaysia. Malaysia is now viewed as an emerging and competitive automotive hub for the Asia Pacific region — especially for right-hand-drive models.
As we deepen our integration with China's highly advanced and competitive automotive supply chain, we are positioning EPMB and Melaka as a hub for Chinese carmakers targeting the Malaysian and ASEAN automotive markets," Hamidon added.
The launch of Phase 2 on was witnessed by Melaka chief minister Datuk Seri Utama Rauf Yusoh.
The expansion of EPMB’s assembly operations in Melaka is expected to deliver substantial economic benefits by attracting local and foreign automotive players to the state.
This includes the creation of up to 1,000 new jobs and the development of EEV, EV, automation and advanced manufacturing capabilities.
EPMB broke ground on Phase 1 of its manufacturing facility in Q4 2023 with the production of over 6,000 units of the GWM H6 HEV that have been sold sold in Malaysia.
In 2024, EPMB was appointed as contract assembler in Malaysia for Great Wall Motor and BAIC, two Chinese state-owned enterprises, for eight- and 10-year terms respectively.
In October 2025, EPMB announced it had been appointed by SAIC Motor Malaysia Sdn Bhd as the contract assembler for selected MG models in Malaysia.
Pilot production for the BAIC X55 & BJ40 which was completed in November 2025 and its full production is slated to begin in January 2026.
Pilot production of MG vehicles is expected to begin in February 2026.
Along with its expanding production capacity, EPMB's automotive assembly capabilities are supported by its integrated component manufacturing plants in Kedah, Perak, Selangor, and Melaka.
Phase 3 of plant is expected to be operational by the end of Q3 2026 and will incorporate in-house body painting capabilities. The increase in localisation aims to create additional value and strengthen the automotive assembly ecosystem in Melaka.
It will be built on an adjoining 8-acre plot of land next to the existing Phase 2 facility.
EPMB also recently celebrated the first GWM Wey G9-PHEV MPV to roll off its assembly line.
"The Wey G9 marks our entry into the premium MPV segment, demonstrating our growing capability to assemble vehicles that are larger, more technologically advanced, and more complex," said Hamidon.
