At GWM Malaysia's media briefing on its first-half 2026 performance, held on July 30th, the company stated that its product strategy in Malaysia will depend on the Malaysian government's electric vehicle (EV) policy.

''The Malaysian government's policy on EVs encourages CKD local assembly of EVs unless we want to sell (our products) for more than MYR 200,000 (US$ 48,830),'' said GWM Malaysia chief operating officer Roslan Abdullah, referring to the Malaysian Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI)'s MYR 250,000 minimum price requirement for fully imported (CBU) electric vehicles sold in Malaysia.

Electric vehicles that are locally assembled (CKD) in Malaysia will continue to receive full tax exemptions until December 31st, 2027, whereas the tax incentives for CBU EVs expired at the end of 2025.

''Battery-electric vehicles are still in the pipeline, but we need to see what the government policy will be after 2027,'' Roslan said, noting that government policy will determine GWM Malaysia's product strategy regarding its BEV models.

The EV models currently offered by GWM Malaysia, namely the Ora Good Cat (MYR 110,000, 143 PS/210 Nm) and the Ora Good Cat GT (MYR 120,000, 171 PS/250 Nm), do not meet the CBU EV requirements, which stipulate a minimum declared cost, insurance and freight (CIF) value of MYR 200,000 and a minimum power output of 180 kW (245 PS).

As a result, these models cannot be restocked unless they are locally assembled in Malaysia. Meanwhile, the also-CBU Ora 07 has been removed from the GWM Malaysia website. However, the company is currently focusing on hybrid and plug-in hybrid models in Malaysia, Roslan said. Hybrid models currently available in the GWM Malaysia line-up include the Wey G9 Hi4 PHEV, the GWM Tank 300 HEV and the Haval H6 HEV.

These will be joined by the Ora 05 HEV, which is expected to be launched during the second half of this year, and the Haval H7 Hi4 PHEV, which is expected to enter the market early next year, according to GWM Malaysia.