MITI Launches NAP2020 Mid-Term Review with Focus on EVs, NxGV

Malaysia’s automotive roadmap is undergoing a mid-term review as policymakers move to ensure it keeps pace with a fast-changing industry. The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), working alongside its agency, the Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii), has begun reassessing the National Automotive Policy 2020 (NAP2020).

Deputy Minister Liew Chin Tong told Parliament that although NAP2020 was originally designed as a 10-year plan, the rapid rise of New Generation Vehicles (NxGV) and other global shifts in mobility mean the policy can’t remain static.

“This review involves in-depth engagement with industry players, policymakers and related agencies to ensure the policy reflects market realities and technological advancements,” he said during Monday’s question-and-answer session.

His remarks came in response to a supplementary question from Datuk Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik (PH–Balik Pulau), who argued that the policy must adapt to the accelerating adoption of electric vehicles (EVs).

To give the review added weight, MITI set up the Council of Automotive Eminent Persons (CAEP) in June 2025. The council is tasked with charting a refreshed direction for the sector, one that reduces the automotive industry’s reliance on petrol, helps Malaysia strengthen its position as an oil-exporting nation, and builds capacity in semiconductor production, which has become central to modern vehicle design.

Council of Automotive Eminent Persons (CAEP)

Findings from CAEP will be submitted to MITI and later tabled at Cabinet level as part of the Mid-Term Review of NAP2020. The updated policy, Liew said, will serve as Malaysia’s automotive master plan, aligning with global megatrends such as energy-efficient vehicles (EEVs), smart mobility and greater automation.

But MITI’s ambitions extend beyond cleaner cars. Liew noted the ministry also wants to build a more sustainable industrial base by strengthening semiconductor and component manufacturing. This, he argued, is key if Malaysia is to play a larger role in the EV revolution rather than simply import it.

Earlier, Kepala Batas MP Dr Siti Mastura Muhammad (PN) had pressed the government on its broader automotive plans, asking how NAP2020 will be leveraged to boost sales of both domestic and imported vehicles. Liew’s response made clear that the review is not just about near-term sales figures, it’s about preparing the industry for the next decade of mobility.