Gotion High-Tech Eyes Malaysia for New Battery Pack Assembly Plant

Gotion High-Tech Co Ltd, a leading Chinese battery manufacturer, is setting its sights on Malaysia as the next destination for its battery pack assembly plant, aiming to strengthen its presence in Southeast Asia.

Dr. Qian Cheng, the company’s senior vice-president and head of the Asia Pacific business unit, revealed this during an interview with Bernama at the 2nd ASEAN Battery Technology Conference (ABTC 2024) held in Singapore.

Although the project is still in its early stages and many details remain confidential, Dr. Qian mentioned that the battery cells for the Malaysian plant would be sourced from China. "We’re still finalising the specifics, so there’s not much I can disclose at the moment,” he said.

Gotion is no stranger to the region, with existing battery assembly operations in Indonesia and Thailand. Additionally, the company’s first battery cell manufacturing plant in ASEAN is set to begin production this Oct in Vietnam.

Gotion has also established a strong global presence, boasting eight research and development centres worldwide, including key locations in Silicon Valley and Singapore.

Dr. Qian expressed strong optimism about the ASEAN market, driven by the region’s rapid shift toward electrification. "We are keen on establishing more cell manufacturing facilities in Southeast Asia. The time is ripe for growth, especially in ASEAN,” he remarked.

ABTC 2024, organised by the Singapore Battery Consortium with co-organisers Nano Malaysia Bhd, Thailand Energy Storage Technology Association, Indonesia’s National Battery Research Institute and National Centre for Sustainable Transportation Technology, as well as the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines, brought together over 320 participants from 16 countries.

Key topics discussed during the conference include battery safety regulations, advanced cell-to-pack technologies, and sustainable recycling strategies across the ASEAN region.

However, at Carz.com.my, we raise the question: Why does Malaysia continue to be chosen primarily as a manufacturing hub rather than as a research and development (R&D) centre like Singapore?

By positioning itself as an R&D hub, Malaysia could experience more significant growth and greater financial returns, moving beyond just being an assembly line to occupy a higher tier in the industry.