Volvo reaffirms its commitment to turning Malaysia into an ASEAN EV hub
Volvo Car Malaysia has just announced its latest step in its electrification ambitions to transform Malaysia into an electric vehicle (EV) hub in ASEAN and even plans to do the same with Vietnam and the Philippines this year as well. The company has also begun deliveries in the neighbouring country of Indonesia in 2022 as well.
What does all this mean? It means that Volvo is serious about spreading electrification all across the globe and is already well on its way to do so here in Malaysia. The brand’s electrifying journey began here in March 2022, when it unveiled its first-ever EV in Malaysia, the Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric.
Moreover, the Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric received a warm welcome from customers in Malaysia and even received 400 orders in the first month of its launch alone. The company followed this up in December 2022 with its second EV which was also fully locally assembled (CKD), the Volvo C40 Recharge Pure Electric.
This marks the next chapter in the Volvo electrification journey and now Volvo Car Malaysia is on the right track with the goal of 75 percent of its sales to come from its all-electric Recharge Pure Electric lineup by 2025 and to become a fully electric car company by 2030. At this rate, it looks quite possible for the brand.
On top of that, Volvo Car Malaysia enjoyed a record sale of 3,194 vehicles in 2022, which is a 43 percent increase from 2021 and is also looking to increase its number of EVs sold to achieve its goals for 2025. Plus, Volvo is not just pushing for electrification now but was one of the first to push for electrification in Malaysia.
Volvo Car Malaysia was also the first luxury automotive automaker in Malaysia to offer a full range of locally assembled CKD plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) and is also the first car manufacturer in Malaysia with a local assembly plant that assembles fully electric vehicles.
Charles Frump, Managing Director of Volvo Car Malaysia, said “Volvo Car Malaysia’s ambition towards an all-electric Malaysia is steadily becoming a reality. Our assembly plant here in Malaysia plays an important role in our electrification ambition as we bring our electric vehicles to two more ASEAN countries – Vietnam and the Philippines.”
He concluded with, “The exportation of our locally assembled electric vehicles is one of our many steps to propel Malaysia into becoming a hub for electric vehicles in the ASEAN region.”
Additionally, with Volvo Car Malaysia being capable of assembling EVs locally, this will further cement the brand’s place as a leader in local electrification efforts and place Volvo as a leading premium EV maker to drive Malaysia to an all-electric future soon.
