Malaysia’s SIB Teams Up with China’s ZZ Tech in EV Battery Push

Sapura Industrial Berhad (SIB), one of Malaysia’s leading automotive component manufacturers, has entered into a joint venture with China’s Zhejiang Zhongze Precision Technology Co. Ltd (ZZ Tech).

This marks SIB’s entry into the battery component space, starting with the production of high-precision casings for lithium batteries.

The partnership supports SIB’s strategy to diversify beyond automotive components and grow into the energy storage sector. It aligns with Malaysia’s National Energy Master Plan and the global shift toward electric vehicles and cleaner technologies.

ZZ Tech is a precision component specialist involved in structural parts for new energy batteries. Its products are used in blade and cylindrical battery formats, common in both electric vehicles (xEVs) and large-scale battery energy storage systems.

As outlined previously, industry sources have identified ZZ Tech as a supplier to global battery giant CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd). CATL is also the technology partner for local carmaker Perodua’s upcoming first EV model, expected to launch this year.

While SIB and ZZ Tech did not specifically mention Perodua in the joint venture announcement, their collaboration appears to be well aligned with the second national automaker’s growing EV ambitions. 

Should this be the case, SIB is expected to play a key role in the local EV supply chain, though nothing has been confirmed yet.

According to Fazal Othman Mohd Ghazal, President, Industrial Business at SIB, “This partnership reinforces SIB’s position as a trusted and high-quality manufacturing partner, not just in automotive but across the broader precision engineering sector.”

Meanwhile, Li Xin, VP of ZZ Tech, said the company is excited to bring its battery expertise to Malaysia through SIB. He went on to add, SIB’s strong local knowledge and proven manufacturing capabilities make it an ideal partner for expansion in Southeast Asia.

This joint venture also reflects SIB’s transformation as a standalone company, following its separation from the wider Sapura Group. The company recently introduced a new logo to reflect this new direction and identity.

Together, SIB and ZZ Tech are positioning themselves to meet growing regional demand for energy storage and EV components, both in Malaysia and across the region.