Malaysia is about to assemble its first locally built plug-in hybrid and battery-electric pickup trucks. Evolvelectric Motors Sdn Bhd, the distributor for JAC pickups in Malaysia, has signed an agreement with FT Assembly Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bursa-listed Feytech Holdings Berhad, to locally assemble the JAC T9 in three forms: diesel, plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) petrol, and battery electric vehicle (BEV).
What is being built, and when
The programme runs on a Completely Knocked Down (CKD) basis, meaning the vehicles are shipped as parts and assembled locally. The T9 PHEV petrol leads the line, followed by the T9 Diesel and then the BEV. Production is expected to start in November 2026 at Feytech's manufacturing facility in Kulim, Kedah, with the BEV targeted to begin in January 2027. First-year capacity is set at an estimated 3,000 units.
The locally assembled models are set to become the country's first CKD PHEV and BEV pickup trucks, extending Malaysia's vehicle assembly base into the light commercial New Energy Vehicle segment.
The investment and the local content
FT Assembly has invested RM3.6 million to set up the assembly facility, with potential further investment of up to RM8 million over the next three years. The plant spans roughly 84,000 sq ft and covers assembly, inspection, testing and quality control. Feytech expects it to generate about RM230 million in economic value a year, and the CKD programme targets local content of up to 30 percent.
"While Japanese and American manufacturers have chosen to produce their pickup trucks in Thailand, JAC Pickup together with Evolvelectric Motors is building a stronger foundation in Malaysia by producing its pickup trucks locally," said Lau Yit Mun, CEO of Evolvelectric Motors. He added that JAC is exploring opportunities to export pickup trucks from Malaysia, subject to favourable conditions.
The T9 itself
Built on JAC's third-generation international platform, the T9 pairs 4x4 pickup functionality with the maker's stated figures for stability, comfort and safety. The T9 PHEV petrol is currently the only PHEV pickup on sale in Malaysia. JAC quotes a combined petrol-and-battery range of up to 1,000 km, up to 1,000 Nm of torque from a dual-motor system, ADAS 2.0 driver assistance, and a five-star ANCAP safety rating. The Completely Built-Up T9 PHEV petrol is due to reach the market in early November 2026, ahead of the locally assembled versions.
The move lands as Malaysia's electric shift accelerates. The country sold 26,192 EVs in the first half of 2026, and locally built models like the Proton e.MAS and imported rivals such as the BYD ATTO 3 have pushed EV registrations higher. A locally assembled electric pickup is a new front in that story: not a passenger EV, but a work vehicle built in Kedah.
For a buyer, local assembly usually points to steadier supply and the potential for competitive pricing over an imported equivalent, though JAC has not yet confirmed prices for the CKD models.
