EPMB to build new vehicle painting facility at Melaka CKD hub
Paul Tan, 16 Jun '26
Amid efforts to expand local vehicle manufacturing and export capabilities in Malaysia, EP Manufacturing Berhad (EPMB) on June 15th broke ground on a new vehicle painting facility at its manufacturing hub in Pegoh, Melaka.
The facility is being developed with an investment of MYR 200 million (US$ 49.3 million) and is scheduled to be fully operational by June 30th, 2027, with the capacity to handle 30,000 vehicle bodies annually when operating on extended production shifts.
"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," said Hamidon Abdullah, Executive Chairman of EPMB.
"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," he further added.
The company entered into its first partnership with Great Wall Motor (GWM) in 2023 and, at that time, had 40 acres of freehold land in Pegoh. In 2026, the company's operations span approximately 58 acres and include collaborations with GWM, BAIC, SAIC (for MG) and Xpeng.
According to the company, its Melaka facility is capable of assembling sedans, SUVs, MPVs and four-wheel-drive vehicles, supporting multiple powertrain technologies, including internal combustion engines (ICE), hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) and battery electric vehicles (BEV).
Vehicles currently assembled at EPMB include the GWM Haval H6 and Wey G9, the BAIC X55 and BJ40, the MG S5 EV, and the Xpeng G6. Output at the facility exceeds 1,000 vehicles per month, and the company is working with its OEM partners to expand exports across ASEAN and other international markets.
The announcement that Melaka-assembled MG S5 EV units will be exported to South America is one example of these export activities. Prior to this, the first CKD units of the GWM Wey G9 were exported from EPMB's facility to Thailand.
