since 1976
since 1976
Tan Chong Motor Group and SAIC-GM-Wuling (SGMW) have strengthened their strategic partnership through a cooperation agreement to advance EV battery localisation in Malaysia under the TQ brand.
The agreement was signed at the 23rd China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) held on 17 September in Nanning, Guangxi , marking one of the first major initiatives under SGMW’s newly announced Global 5 Strategy.
The collaboration will focus on establishing a more localised supply chain ecosystem in Malaysia, beginning with the localisation and CKD assembly of EV batteries, while supporting SGMW’s wider expansion of production capabilities and supply-chain integration across ASEAN.
The agreement was signed by Liu Zhijun, Director of Marketing and Service of Liuzhou Saike Technology of SGMW, and Wan Wei Sun, Head of TQ WULING on behalf of the Tan Chong Motor Group.
This latest cooperation builds on the existing partnership between Tan Chong Motor Group and SAIC-GM-Wuling through TQ WULING. By localising EV battery production, the partnership will further strengthen Malaysia’s capabilities in the new energy vehicle sector while marking the next phase of TQ WULING’s development in the country. It is also expected to reinforce Malaysian customers’ confidence in the brand’s long-term commitment to meeting their mobility needs.
Through the localisation of core components and the development of a Malaysian supply chain, the partnership aims to strengthen Malaysia’s participation in the regional EV ecosystem, deepen SGMW’s roots in Malaysia and ASEAN, and support greater cross-border industrial collaboration between China, Malaysia and the wider ASEAN region.
Malaysia Plays a Key Role in SAIC-GM-Wuling’s Global Expansion
The Malaysia agreement was announced alongside the official launch of SGMW’s Global 5 Strategy Event at CAEXPO, under the theme Global Wuling, Shining Across ASEAN.
The strategy outlines SGMW’s approach to international growth, moving beyond the export of vehicles towards the development of a more comprehensive global automotive ecosystem encompassing manufacturing, supply chains, sales, talent and financial capabilities.
SGMW has recorded cumulative global production and sales of more than 32 million vehicles, including over four million new energy vehicles. Its overseas exports have grown for 10 consecutive years, with cumulative exports exceeding 1.6 million vehicles and vehicle sets.
Under the Global 5 Strategy, SGMW plans to leverage five key strengths: a comprehensive product portfolio, its “Tian-Ling-Shen” technology system, its Intelligent Island Manufacturing System (I²MS), a coordinated five-chain industrial ecosystem, and 68 years of automotive manufacturing experience.
SGMW will also offer five flexible international cooperation models covering trade, distribution, production and sales, full industrial-chain cooperation, and technology licensing, allowing its global partners to adopt models suited to their respective markets.
With ASEAN positioned as a strategic gateway for SGMW’s global expansion, the partnership with Tan Chong Motor Group in Malaysia represents an important step in translating this strategy into local industrial capabilities.
Advancing Green Manufacturing and the ASEAN Automotive Ecosystem
At CAEXPO, SGMW also joined People’s Tribune and industry experts to release the think tank report, “A New Paradigm for Green Manufacturing and the Collaborative Globalisation of the Automotive Industry.”
SGMW’s approach centres on five interconnected areas – the intelligent manufacturing chain, supply chain, sales chain, talent chain and financial chain – designed to transform its domestic capabilities into a broader global automotive ecosystem.
This approach is particularly relevant to ASEAN, where localisation can play an increasingly important role in supporting the development of regional new energy vehicle supply chains.
The strategic cooperation between Tan Chong Motor Group and SGMW in Malaysia reflects this direction, combining SGMW’s EV technology and manufacturing capabilities with Tan Chong Motor Group’s established automotive presence and local market experience.
Moving forward, both parties will continue to explore opportunities to deepen localisation efforts and strengthen Malaysia’s position within SGMW’s growing ASEAN and global automotive ecosystem.
