JAC T9 CKD Assembly Adds PHEV and EV Production in Malaysia

The JAC T9 CKD assembly program in Malaysia is being developed by Evolvelectric Motors, the distributor of JAC Motors in the country, in partnership with Feytech subsidiary FT Assembly. The program will cover PHEV, diesel, and EV variants of the JAC T9 at a facility in Kulim, Kedah. Evolvelectric Motors said PHEV assembly is expected to begin in November, followed by the EV version in January. The company also claimed that the program would result in the first locally assembled PHEV and EV pickup trucks in Malaysia.

FT Assembly has allocated MYR 3.6 million for the 84,000-square-foot assembly facility in Kulim, while its investment could reach MYR 8 million over the next three years. The facility is estimated to have an initial annual capacity of 3,000 units, covering the JAC T9 program across its PHEV, diesel, and EV variants. The project also targets up to 30% local content, establishing a defined objective for domestic participation as CKD assembly operations develop. These investments and capacity targets form the initial manufacturing framework for the JAC T9 in Malaysia.

The partnership combines Evolvelectric Motors’ role as the Malaysian distributor with FT Assembly’s manufacturing operation under Feytech. The JAC T9 program therefore has a multi-powertrain scope, with PHEV, diesel, and EV variants included within the planned CKD assembly operation. The production schedule is phased, with PHEV assembly expected first in November and EV assembly planned for January. Diesel assembly is also part of the program, although the shared announcement does not provide a separate start date for that variant. Production is planned at the Kulim facility in Kedah.

Evolvelectric Motors said the project is expected to generate MYR 230 million in annual economic value. That company-stated figure accompanies the planned initial capacity of 3,000 units per year, the up-to-30% local-content target, and the potential MYR 8 million investment over three years. Together, these figures define the initial scale and stated economic expectations of the local assembly project. The immediate production milestones are the planned November start for the PHEV variant and the January start for the EV variant, while the facility is also structured to support diesel production.

Industry Impact & Outlook

The Kulim assembly project broadens local manufacturing activity around the JAC T9 while introducing PHEV and EV pickup production within Malaysia’s CKD landscape. Its multi-powertrain structure gives the program scope across different propulsion preferences, while the 30% local-content target provides a measurable objective for domestic participation. The MYR 3.6 million initial facility investment and potential MYR 8 million three-year investment establish the near-term manufacturing commitment described by the companies. The next key developments are the planned November PHEV assembly start and January EV start, which will indicate how the phased program progresses toward its targeted 3,000-unit annual capacity.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will JAC T9 assembly begin in Malaysia?
The JAC T9 assembly program is expected to begin with PHEV production in November, followed by EV assembly in January at the Kulim facility. The CKD program also covers diesel variants, although a separate diesel assembly start date was not provided. FT Assembly has allocated MYR 3.6 million to the 84,000-square-foot facility, with potential investment of up to MYR 8 million over three years. Initial annual capacity is estimated at 3,000 units, while the project targets up to 30% local content and MYR 230 million in annual economic value.