THE Malaysian Vehicle Project (MVP) under the National Automotive Policy (NAP) 2020 will enhance the capabilities of national vehicle brands, namely, Proton, Perodua and Modenas, through research and development and the latest technology, the prime minister said today.

Development of two cars and one motorcycle under the national brands will continue under the MVP, which Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced today at the launch of the NAP 2020.

“The government has made a conscious decision under NAP 2020 to implement the new Malaysian vehicle project, building on our efforts in developing two national cars and one national motorcycle,” he said at the launch of the fourth edition of the NAP 2020 today.

“The proposed Malaysian vehicle project will emphasise on research and development (R&D) and incorporation of the latest technologies in order to be competitive in both domestic and global markets.

“New technology clusters as well as new expert workforce, especially in the field of automotive engineering, would be developed consequently.”

MVP is expected to contribute significantly to the country’s economic development by supporting the upstream and downstream industries, he said.

Demand for materials related to the automotive sector, such as high-grade steel, plastics, rubber and petrochemical products, will stimulate growth of these sub-sectors.

The MVP seeks to improve the existing capabilities of national vehicle brands.

The government is also committed to ensuring that Malaysia continues to prosper and its wealth and prosperity shared in an equitable manner. 

To achieve that, the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030, Industry4WRD and National Transport Policy seek to accelerate Malaysia’s economic growth and development.

“Therefore, the NAP 2020 should be viewed by everyone as a balanced and comprehensive policy that will consider the interests of all stakeholders in the domestic automotive sector,” he said.

It will set the pace for improvements and prepare the automotive industry to move towards the next phase of connected mobility, he added. – February 21, 2020.