From left:1. YB Datuk Wira Salhah Salleh, Melaka State Finance Officer2. YB Datuk P. Shanmugam V. Pitchay, EXCO for Youth Development, Sports, and Non-Governmental Organizations3. YB Datuk Wira Azhar Arshad, State Secretary of Melaka4. YAB Datuk Seri Utama Ab Rauf Yusoh, Chief Minister of Melaka5. Mr. Hamidon Abdullah, Executive Chairman, EP Manufacturing Berhad6. Mr. Emory Qi (齐枫), Managing Director, SAIC Motor Malaysia7. Mr. Hoffen Yih (郑毅勉), Chief Operating Officer, SAIC Motor Malaysia8. YBhg. Datuk Ginie Lim (林秀凌), Chief Executive Officer, Invest Melaka Berhad9. Mr. Aidan Hamidon, Executive Director, EP Manufacturing Berhad
10 March 2026
SHAH ALAM - EP Manufacturing Berhad (EPMB) today achieved a significant milestone in its foray into automotive assembly with the roll-off of the first locally assembled MG S5 at its Melaka manufacturing facility. The roll-off of the MG S5 marks the start of local production of MG vehicles in Malaysia, under EPMB's collaboration with SAIC Motor, one of the world’s largest automotive groups.
Gracing the roll-off event were YAB Datuk Seri Utama Ab Rauf Yusoh, the Chief Minister of Melaka, YB Datuk Wira Azhar Arshad, Melaka State Secretary, Emory QiFeng, Managing Director of SAIC Motor Malaysia, and Hoffen Teh, Chief Operating Officer of SAIC Motor Malaysia. Also in attendance were YB Datuk P. Shanmugam V. Pitchay, Melaka State EXCO for Youth, Sports and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), and YB Datuk Wira Salhah Salleh, Melaka State Finance Officer.
Mr. Hamidon Abdullah, Executive Chairman, EP Manufacturing Berhad speaks at the roll-off of the first locally assembled MG S5 at EPMB's Melaka manufacturing facility today.
En. Hamidon Abdullah, Executive Chairman of EPMB, said:
“Today represents the maturing of the investments that we have carefully built over the past few years. From establishing our assembly operations, we have now progressed to producing multiple vehicle models locally, and the introduction of the MG S5 marks another important step forward for our operations.
EPMB's Melaka facility was developed as a flexible multi-model assembly plant, capable of producing a wide range of vehicles, including sedans, SUVs, MPVs and ladder-frame vehicles. The production line is also designed to accommodate multiple powertrain technologies, including internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, battery electric vehicles (BEV), hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV), and range-extended electric vehicles (REEV).
This flexible manufacturing configuration allows the plant to support different vehicle programmes and adapt to the evolving technological landscape of the automotive industry.
Currently, the facility is planned to produce approximately 1,200 vehicles per month, with output expected to increase gradually as production programmes expand. We aim to fully utilise the installed capacity of the facility and eventually reach 2,500 vehicles per month, or approximately 30,000 vehicles annually.
In the future, we will explore export-oriented opportunities utilising our Malaysian manufacturing plant, including the potential assembly of left-hand-drive vehicles for international markets.
Such developments could position EPMB's Melaka facility as part of SAIC Motor’s broader regional manufacturing network.
This is an ambition that reflects our determination and long-term commitment to building a sustainable automotive manufacturing base here in Malaysia, benefiting the local automotive industry and the state of Melaka."
Today's roll-off of the MG S5 follows the signing of a collaboration agreement between EPMB and SAIC Motor in Cyberjaya in October 2025.
In less than five months since the agreement was signed, both partners successfully completed the necessary preparations to begin local assembly operations.
SAIC Motor operates an extensive international network covering research and development, manufacturing, supply chains and global distribution.
With the MG brand, SAIC Motor has been expanding its presence in international markets, including Malaysia. MG has already established a growing commercial presence in Malaysia, supported by an expanding dealer network of approximately 40 authorised dealerships nationwide.
Through its collaboration with EPMB, SAIC Motor enhances local vendor participation, supply chain localisation, and technology transfer, contributing to the growth of higher-value manufacturing activities in Malaysia.
Web Edited by YAN PHENG LIANG
yanphengliang@suketv.com