EP Manufacturing (EPMB) is targeting to begin vehicle production at its factory in Hicom Pegoh Industrial Park in Melaka in the third quarter of 2024.

According to EPMB chief executive officer (CEO) Ahmad Razlan Mohamed, the company is looking to produce 6,000 units by year-end, the news reports.

Production, which will be carried out by the company's subsidiary, Peps-JV Melaka (PJVM), will kick off with builds for two Chinese carmakers.

The first is China-based Beijing Automotive Group (BAIC), with the company having inked an 10-year vehicle assembly agreement with the carmaker in April. Initial models slated for production being the BJ40 Plus and X55II SUVs, with the CKD forms expected to debut in 2025.

EPMB will serve as a vehicle assembler, with BAIC providing relevant technical support and training as well as guidance and supervision on the assembly and manufacturing process. The Chinese automaker will be responsible for the sales and marketing of vehicles in the region.

The company will also produce vehicles for Great Wall Motor (GWM), with EPMB, via PJVM, having been appointed earlier this year as a contract vehicle assembler for the Chinese automaker in Malaysia for a period of eight years. EPMB will initially assemble the Haval H6 Hybrid and the Haval Jolion in Malaysia for GWM.

In October 2023, EPMB announced that over MYR 100 million (US$ 21 million) would be invested for the construction of the plant in Melaka.