MELAKA – EP Manufacturing Berhad (EPMB) yesterday announced the commencement of construction for a new vehicle painting facility in Pegoh, Melaka, marking another major milestone in the development of an integrated automotive manufacturing ecosystem in the state.

The new facility reinforces Melaka’s growing position as one of Malaysia’s most dynamic automotive industrial centres, supporting the complete vehicle manufacturing value chain from localisation, component manufacturing and logistics to vehicle assembly, painting and export distribution.

With this investment, EPMB continues to advance its vision of creating a one-stop automotive manufacturing hub capable of serving global automotive brands and supporting Malaysia’s ambitions to become a leading regional centre for automotive production and exports.

With the addition of the paint facility, EPMB is strengthening its transformation from a traditional Tier-1 component supplier into a vertically-integrated automotive manufacturing partner. The company now offers end-to-end manufacturing solutions encompassing localisation development, parts production, CKD operations, vehicle assembly, painting, quality assurance, testing and regional export support — all within its Pegoh manufacturing campus.

The development further enhances the automotive ecosystem being built in Melaka, creating greater opportunities for local vendors, technology transfer, skilled workforce development and supply chain localisation.

En. Hamidon Abdullah, Executive Chairman of EPMB, said:

“Vehicle painting is one of the most technologically advanced processes in automotive manufacturing. The establishment of this facility represents much more than an expansion of our production capabilities — it is a strategic investment in the long-term development of Melaka’s automotive ecosystem.

By integrating painting operations into our existing manufacturing campus, EPMB will be able to provide global automotive brands with a complete CKD manufacturing solution within Malaysia, covering localisation, assembly, painting and export readiness. This significantly enhances our value proposition as a manufacturing partner for international OEMs.

Importantly, this investment supports Malaysia’s localisation agenda while strengthening Melaka’s position as an emerging automotive manufacturing hub for ASEAN.”

Today’s announcement reflects the rapid growth of EPMB's automotive manufacturing business, which has expanded from a single OEM programme into strategic collaborations with four major automotive groups from China — GWM, BAIC, SAIC-MG and XPENG.

Production volumes have surpassed 1,000 vehicles per month, with further growth expected as new programmes are introduced and export activities expand. Vehicles assembled in Pegoh are already entering regional markets, including Thailand, and EPMB is actively working with its OEM partners to extend exports across ASEAN and other international markets.

As production capabilities continue to expand, EPMB aims to position Pegoh as a regional automotive manufacturing and export gateway, supported by a growing ecosystem of suppliers, technology partners, logistics providers and skilled talent.