WTCA Signs MOU With GAC Motor To Study CKD Expansion For Export To Vietnam

GS3 Emzoom (left) and Emkoo (right) crossover SUV models from GAC Motor previewed by WTCA earlier this year.

Following their initial local debuts and previews held earlier this year, both the GAC GS3 Emzoom and larger Emkoo crossover SUVs are set to be locally assembled (CKD) and distributed in Malaysia by WTC Automotif (M) Sdn Bhd (WTCA) – a wholly owned subsidiary of TC Holdings Bhd.

Now, it appears that CKD operation is set to expand following a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between WTCA and the Chinese state-owned carmaker last weekend. Said signing ceremony was held at MITEC, KL under the presence of WTCA’s CEO Tan Keng Meng, GAC Group President Feng Xingya, and Gunagzhou City’s Vice Mayor Lai Zhihong.

Through which, WTCA is set hold a feasibility study into expanding its CKD operations to include both right- (RHD) and left-hand-drive (LHD) versions, the latter specifically for export to Vietnam. Said study is set to be completed by end of July this year, by which point WTCA and GAC Motor are expected to formalize on definitive agreements for which.

A new MOU signed by WTCA and GAC Motor over the weekend is poised to see the local firm expand its CKD operations further to include both RHD and LHD models for exports.

WTCA seeks to leverage its experience, capability, as well as the Malaysian industrial ecosystem with GAC Motor International at delivering GAC mobility solutions for the ASEAN markets. Moreover, this collaboration is poised to solidify Malaysia and WTCA’s pivotal role as a strategic partner for GAC’s regional growth strategy.

“It will be a strong testament to the depth of our partnership and our collective commitment to provide cutting-edge mobility solutions, integrating sustainable manufacturing practices, creating economic opportunities, and ultimately providing customers across ASEAN with the freedom to go further,” emphasised Tan after the ceremony.

Besides agreeing to this CKD expansion study, WTCA also formalised a CKD Technical Collaboration agreement with GAC in the same ceremony. This grants WTCA rights to locally assemble GAC vehicles using CKD kits and components manufactured and supplied by the latter Chinese automaker directly.

Also held last weekend was a ribbon-cutting ceremony at WTCA's Segambut plant to mark the start of local production of the GAC GS3 Emzoom.

Things culminated last weekend with a ribbon-cutting ceremony conducted at WTCA’s plant in Segambut, Kuala Lumpur, which marked the start of local production of the GAC GS3 Emzoom at the facility. WTCA highlights that the achievement was realized in just 13 months since the project was first announced.

As a refresher, the GS3 Emzoom, along with its larger Emkoo and all-electric Aion Y Plus stablemates, were all previewed by WTCA in Jan this year. All three are set to go on sale soon within this year too through WTCA’s still-growing network of GAC Motor dealerships nationwide.