JAC T9 Pickup Trucks to Be Locally Assembled in Malaysia, Including PHEV and BEV Models

Malaysia is set to expand its local vehicle assembly capabilities into the electrified pickup truck segment, with Evolvelectric Motors Sdn Bhd, the Malaysian distributor of JAC pickup trucks, agreeing with FT Assembly Sdn Bhd (FTA), a wholly owned subsidiary of Feytech Holdings Berhad.

Under the agreement, FTA will locally assemble the JAC T9 Diesel, T9 Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) and T9 Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) in Malaysia.

The move is particularly significant for the local automotive industry, as the locally assembled T9 PHEV and T9 BEV are expected to become Malaysia’s first locally assembled PHEV and BEV pickup trucks, respectively.

Local Assembly to Start in Kulim

Production under the phased Completely Knocked Down (CKD) programme is expected to begin in November 2026, starting with the T9 PHEV petrol.

The T9 Diesel will follow, with the T9 BEV planned as the next electrified model in the programme.

FTA expects the facility to have an initial annual production capacity of approximately 3,000 units in its first year.

The local assembly facility is located at Feytech’s manufacturing site in Kulim, Kedah, covering approximately 84,000 sq ft.

FTA has invested RM3.6 million to establish the facility, with the investment potentially increasing to RM8 million over the next three years.

The facility will support key stages of vehicle production, including:

• Vehicle assembly
• Inspection
• Testing
• Quality control

The project is also expected to generate approximately RM230 million in economic value annually, while creating employment opportunities and supporting the development of Malaysia’s automotive supply chain.

Up to 30% Local Content Target

The CKD programme is targeting up to 30% local content, which could help strengthen local participation in the production of electrified commercial vehicles.

Beyond vehicle assembly, the programme is expected to contribute to the development of local technical expertise in PHEV and BEV manufacturing, giving Malaysia another opportunity to build capabilities around New Energy Vehicles (NEVs).

For FTA, the JAC project also creates a platform to expand its vehicle assembly capabilities and potentially work with other automotive brands in the future.

T9 PHEV Leads the Way

The JAC T9 PHEV petrol will be the first model to enter the local CKD programme.

According to Evolvelectric Motors, the T9 PHEV is currently the only PHEV pickup truck available in Malaysia. It combines petrol and battery power to deliver a claimed driving range of up to 1,000km, while its dual-motor system produces up to 1,000Nm of torque.

The pickup also comes with ADAS 2.0 and has achieved a five-star Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) safety rating.

Before local assembly begins, the CBU version of the T9 PHEV petrol is expected to be introduced to the Malaysian market in early November 2026.

BEV Version Targeted for 2027

The fully electric JAC T9 BEV is targeted to begin local assembly in January 2027, following the introduction of the T9 PHEV and T9 Diesel under the phased CKD programme.

This gives the T9 lineup a broader electrification path in Malaysia, covering petrol-electric PHEV technology as well as a fully electric BEV option.

JAC Looks Beyond the Malaysian Market

Lau Yit Mun, Chief Executive Officer of Evolvelectric Motors, said the CKD programme represents an important step in JAC’s long-term development in Malaysia.

The company is also exploring the possibility of exporting JAC pickup trucks assembled in Malaysia, subject to favourable market conditions.

This could potentially position Malaysia not only as a market for JAC pickups, but also as part of the brand’s wider regional manufacturing and supply chain strategy.

From Automotive Components to Vehicle Assembly

For Feytech, the project represents an expansion beyond its established automotive component manufacturing activities.

Connie Go, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Feytech Holdings Berhad, described the JAC project as an important milestone as the group moves into CKD vehicle assembly.

Through FTA, Feytech is expanding into light commercial vehicle assembly while developing more structured vehicle manufacturing capabilities.

The company also sees the facility as a potential platform for future opportunities involving vehicle assembly, automotive modules and other manufacturing activities.

A New Chapter for Malaysia’s Pickup Truck Market

The partnership brings together JAC’s experience in light commercial vehicles with Feytech’s existing automotive manufacturing capabilities.

More importantly, the project adds another dimension to Malaysia’s growing NEV ecosystem by bringing locally assembled PHEV and BEV pickup trucks into the country’s manufacturing landscape.

The locally assembled JAC T9 PHEV petrol is expected to roll out from FTA’s Kulim facility from November 2026, while the T9 BEV is targeted to follow in January 2027.

For Malaysian buyers, the arrival of locally assembled electrified pickups could mark an interesting new chapter for a segment traditionally dominated by conventional diesel-powered trucks.