BYD Sime Motors partners with transport ministry to boost EV adoption in Malaysia

BYD Sime Motors, the official distributor of BYD vehicles in Malaysia and the country’s top-selling battery electric vehicle (BEV) brand, has entered into a strategic partnership with the Ministry of Transport (MOT) to support Malaysia’s low-carbon mobility ambitions.

Launched under the banner “Jom Pandu BYD Bersama MOT”, the six-month programme aims to familiarise MOT personnel with electric vehicles through a practical test drive experience. The initiative is supported by Gentari Green Mobility, a subsidiary of clean energy solutions provider Gentari Sdn Bhd, which has installed two EV chargers at the Ministry’s headquarters in Putrajaya to facilitate the programme.

The launch ceremony was officiated by Transport Minister YB Loke Siew Fook, alongside Jeffrey Gan, Managing Director for Southeast Asia at Sime Motors. Also in attendance were Deputy Transport Minister YB Datuk Haji Hasbi Bin Habibollah, MOT Secretary-General YBhg. Dato’ Jana Santhiran Muniayan, General Manager of BYD Sime Motors Adeline Lew, and Head of Green Mobility MY-SG at Gentari, Izuan Hafiz.

As part of the initiative, BYD Sime Motors is providing the Ministry with its full EV portfolio — including the BYD SEALION 7, SEAL, ATTO 3 Ultra, DOLPHIN, and the M6 — on loan. These vehicles will be used by MOT personnel over the course of the pilot, offering an up-close look at the capabilities, comfort, and efficiency of BYD’s latest electric models.

Speaking at the event, Gan said the initiative underscores BYD Sime Motors’ commitment to advancing Malaysia’s electric mobility agenda. “We are proud to partner with the Ministry of Transport in this landmark programme. Through direct engagement with our EVs, we aim to demystify electric vehicle ownership and accelerate their adoption across all segments — including the public sector,” he said.

Beyond providing a product showcase, the programme is positioned as a testbed for integrating EVs into government operations, offering insights that could inform future policy and fleet decisions. It also reinforces the role of public-private collaboration in supporting Malaysia’s energy transition goals.

As part of the infrastructure push, Gentari has installed two 22kW AC chargers at the MOT complex. The company, which currently operates over 530 EV charging points nationwide, is working toward the national target of 10,000 public chargers by 2025 — a key milestone under the National Energy Transition Roadmap.

With EV adoption gaining momentum, the partnership between BYD Sime Motors, MOT, and Gentari represents a concrete step toward cleaner, more sustainable transportation across Malaysia’s public and private sectors.