PETALING JAYA: JAC’s T9 diesel, plug-in hybrid electric vehicle petrol (PHEV) and battery electric vehicle (BEV) pick-up trucks are set to be assembled in Malaysia.
This follows Evolvelectric Motors Sdn Bhd, JAC’s pickup truck distributor in Malaysia, entering into an agreement with FT Assembly Sdn Bhd (FTA), a wholly owned subsidiary of Feytech Holdings Bhd, to locally assemble the pick-up trucks.
The agreement marks a significant milestone for JAC in Malaysia, with the locally assembled T9 set to become the country’s “first” locally assembled PHEV and BEV pickup trucks.
Under the phased completely knocked down (CKD) programme, the T9 PHEV petrol will lead the local assembly programme, followed by the T9 diesel, and later, BEV models.
Production is expected to commence in November 2026, with an annual production capacity of 3,000 units in the first year.
The roll out of the BEV model is targeted to begin in January 2027.
FTA has invested RM3.6mil to establish the local assembly facility for JAC at Feytech’s manufacturing facility in Kulim, Kedah with potential investment of up to RM8mil in the next three years.
Spanning 84,000 sq ft, 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 RM230mil in economic value annually, create employment opportunities and support the development of the local supply chain ecosystem.
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.
The CKD programme is targeting local content of up to 30%.
Evolvelectric Motors CEO Lau Yit Mun said 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."
"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 4x4 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 1,000Nm of from its dual-motor system and ADAS 2.0, and has achieved a five-star Australasian New Car Assessment Programme (ANCAP) safety rating.
Feytech CEO and executive director Connie Go 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.”
