New national automotive policy focuses on next generation vehicles

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s new National Automotive Policy (NAP) which will be unveiled by year-end is expected to focus on next-generation vehicles which are smart and connected, as well as utilising green technology.

Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and Internet of Things Institute (MARii) Chief Executive Officer Datuk Madani Sahari said the NAP would also look into mobility as a service.

“Connected cars have the potential to create new business and job opportunities. As cars become connected and smarter, mobility can become an important aspect of the service industry,” he told reporters at a briefing to introduce the institute here yesterday.

Madani said the Industry 4.0 policy recently announced by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) would serve as an enabler to move the automotive industry forward in the NAP.

He said the rebranding of the Malaysia Automotive Institute to MARii also expanded the institute’s scope to become the focal point, coordinating centre and think-tank towards enhancing the automotive industry’s competitiveness through the adoption of robotics and the Internet of Things (IoT).

“The roles and responsibilities of the organisation remain the same with the added inclusion of enhancing the application and development of robotics and IoT into the automotive industry to spur new jobs and business opportunities.

“The adoption of these two fastgrowing technologies is expected to create various cross-functional applications in advanced manufacturing and advanced IT, with robotics and IoT applications rapidly becoming fundamental requirements, particularly in achieving Industry 4.0 compliance,” Madani said.

The automotive industry, he said, was the main driver for robotics and IoT, whereby over 33 per cent of these new technologies globally were being used in this industry.

“Therefore, the whole concept of industry 4.0 as a policy, and the rebranding of MARii as the implementing agency to undertake all this, would tie-up with enhancing the competitiveness of automotive eco-systems,” he said.

Madani said together with MITI, the institute aimed to unlock new avenues to accelerate the adoption of robotics and IoT within the automotive industry, while aspiring to create technology spin-offs for applications in other areas.

Meanwhile, on the third national car project, he said Malaysia was the only developing country in the world that has the capability to manufacture cars in every capacity including design, engineering, prototyping and mass production of vehicles. - Bernama