JAC Motors has entered into an agreement to produce its pickup trucks in Malaysia, as the Chinese state-owned automaker looks to strengthen its position in Southeast Asia’s commercial vehicle market, according to local reports.

JAC Motors and its local distributor Evolvelectric Motors Sdn Bhd have partnered with local contract assembler FT Assembly Sdn Bhd (FTA), a subsidiary of Feytech Holdings Bhd, to assemble the T9 range in the country from completely knocked-down (CKD) kits imported from China.

FT Assembly has agreed to make available an assembly capacity for 3,000 vehicles per year at its plant in Kulim, Kedah, with assembly of the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) variant of the T9 scheduled to begin in November, followed by a battery-powered variant in January 2026 and diesel variants later in 2027. The PHEV model offers a combined petrol/electric range of up to 1,000 km.

Evolvelectric Motors CEO, Lau Yit Mun, said local assembly “will help strengthen JAC's long-term presence in Malaysia. JAC and Evolvelectric Motors are building a stronger foundation in Malaysia by producing the pickup truck locally.”

 The company said it is targeting a local content of 30%, and is also exploring the potential to export the model to other markets in the region.