KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian automotive industry players are looking forward on the outlook for the industry next year when the National Automotive Policy (NAP) will be unveiled in January 2014.
The long-awaited policy is expected to focus on further initiatives for the the electric vehicles (EVs) in the Energy Efficient Vehicle (EEV) segment.
Industry players have been hoping for government funding for the EVs following the significant success in the hybrid car segment.
"Unfortunately, there has been no automobile-related matters mentioned in the 2013 and 2014 Budgets tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
"This has led to industry talk over the future of the automobile industry particularly on the government's policy on hybrid cars. Nonetheless, sales of hybrid cars are picking up in the country," an industry leader, who requested anonymity, told Bernama.
Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Hamim Samuri has hinted that the future for EVs was bright as the cars would meet motorists current and future needs in sync with the government's plan to reduce carbon gas emission in the air by 40 per cent by 2020.
International statistics showed global oil supply was shrinking and according to projections, oil supply will deplete totally over the next 20 years.
This means, in terms of requirements, electric energy as an alternative source of power from petrol, has a bright future.
"The potential for EVs is very bright. We already have the technology, what we have to do now is to improve the re-charging of electric vehicles' batteries," Hamim told Bernama.
On technology development, Hamim said Malaysia has DreamEdge Sdn Bhd, a Bumiputera company, which specialises in vehicle engineering design services.
The company is registered under the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) and was supervised by the International Trade and Industry Ministry.
He aaid DreamEdge has developed a suitable electric car fitted with light parts and components.
"The company has also forged a collaboration with a Japanese company to help expedite manufacturing cars powered by electricity energy," he said. Normally, companies which manufacture electric cars need not less than five years to produce electric cars. With this collaboration, the manufacturing time of electric cars can be reduced.
"I understand that Proton adviser Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has asked DreamEdge to help Proton, which is also doing a research to manufacture electric cars.
"I hope DreamEdge can offer advice, guidance and cooperation to Proton, the national carmaker.
"We're also asking other local automotive companies to collaborate with DreamEdge and with the Japanese firm. I believe Malaysia can emerge as a hub for electric cars in this region," he said.
He also said electric vehicles will substitute petrol-powered cars in Malaysia in future as electric cars are the best alternative so far.
Meanwhile, DreamEdge chief executive officer Khairi Adri Adnan also agreed that Malaysia's potential to become a hub for electric vehicles was very bright based on current demand and lower production cost as compared to other countries.
"Maybe we can start with the demand from Asean countries as the countries under the regional grouping, including Malaysia, are governed by the Kyoto Protocol. We've to comply with the regulation to reduce carbon.
"Actually, we're already late. That's why we in DreamEdge are taking the opportunity. Although the government has not announced the revised National Automotive Policy (NAP), we've the inclination that the government would give emphasis to energy-efficient vehicles.
"If we want to compare with Japan, Malaysia was not too far away in the electric vehicle technology as compared to the hybrid technology. In hybrid Technology, Malaysia is about 10 years behind from the country of the rising sun.
"We've just completed the EV prototype and now we are exploring how we can manufacture EVs," he said.
He however, expressed his concern over the shortage of local content as the producer of electric vehicles that can be justified under the EEV to fulfil the demand from the Asean region.
"If there is no local content, the policy enacted by the government will only benefit foreign carmakers. We will only be encouraging foreign carmakers to benefit from the policy to be implemented later without any inputs from local industry players," he said.
The most significant part of the last NAP announcement has been the tax exemptions for hybrid cars.
The 100 per cent import and excise duty waiver have made a significant impact to the price of hybrid cars, but was limited to cars with combustion engines of under 2.0 litres of displacement.
The end result of the announcement is that only a single hybrid car is beingassembled in Malaysia - Honda Jazz Hybrid.
Meanwhile, the local carmakers have also been actively launching their models, including the national car maker, Proton, which has launched three commercial models, namely- Proton Saga SV in June, Proton Suprima S in August and Proton Persona SV in November in addition to the launch of the new-look Proton Perdana as the government's official car this month.
The second national car, Perodua, has also launched a series of new and enhanced MyVi, ViVa and Alza models in March and the limited edition FEM MyVithis month. -- Bernama
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