SECOND national carmaker Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua) has teamed up with Malaysian Automotive Institute (MAI) to offer financing facility to local car vendors and dealers. The partnership is in line with the government’s efforts to make the automotive industry globally competitive. Perodua will provide an initial fund worth RM260 million to car vendors and dealers, while MAI will evaluate their business proposals to determine whether they are worthy of receiving the financing, which is for over five years. “This is another example of a smart partnership between the government and corporate sectors to further strengthen the industry,” said Perodua president and chief executive officer, Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh, after the signing ceremony between MAI, Perodua Manufacturing Sdn Bhd and Perodua Sales Sdn Bhd, here, yesterday. The signing was witnessed by International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed. Also present was MAI chief executive...

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 25 (Bernama) — The national automobile industry needs to step up its competitiveness, particularly in the export market, given the rising intense competition from global players, says International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed. He said the ministry was not happy with the current export performance of the industry unlike the offtake of auto-components which was performing well. Mustafa said the local industry would have to be mindful of the fact that in the next few years China would slowly, but surely, emerge as an important exporter. “Exports is one indicator of how competitive we are because we are competing against big giants from Japan, Korea and the United States. “Increasingly, perhaps in the future, we should be aware that the Chinese are building capabilities in the automobile sector,” he told a press conference after witnessing the signing of a vendor development programme by five companies here Tuesday. The...

CYBERJAYA, Dec 16 (Bernama) — To remain relevant in the automotive industry in Malaysia and globally, local automotive players have no other alternatives but to strive and achieve the highest possible competitive ability, said Minister of International Trade and Industry, Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed. He said Malaysia’s automotive industry is now facing tremendous challenges due to the continuous changes in market trends, high demand for automotive safety regulations, pressure on environmental policies and demand for lower cost of mobility. “More critical is the stiff competition between automotive manufacturers in capturing market dominance. It is quite clear that with a combination of successful partnerships between the government and industry, the benefits are mutually exclusive. “I would like to call upon the industry players to support all training endeavours especially in providing on-the-job training for our new graduate and undergraduate students,” he said in his...

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 30 (Bernama) — The government will establish an automotive council within two months to provide a platform for policy makers to interact with industry players. Chaired by Minister of International Trade and Investment Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, the council will consist representatives from the government and business community, as well as, non-government organisations representing consumers. “The council will provide a platform for policy makers to interact so that we can have inputs from the industry and have clear directions as to which way the automotive industry will move,” Mustapa told reporters during the National Automotive Policy (NAP) 2014 update here Friday. Saying that the council would probaby hold its first meeting end of march, he added that the automotive sector was an important to the economy as more than 500,000 people are employed and involved in the industry. “It is in many ways, the pulse of the nation’s economy,” he said. In...