Tanjong malim: EP Manufacturing Bhd (EPMB) has unveiled a new chassis component facility in the Automotive High Technology Valley in Tanjong Malim, with an investment of RM9.5 million. The facility, operated by its joint venture Peps Sanly JV Sdn Bhd with China-based automotive component maker Sanly Auto Parts Co Ltd, will produce critical components for selected Proton Holdings Bhd models.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the new facility marks another milestone in EPMB's nearly four-decade partnership with Proton. The company said in a statement that the plant was officially opened by Perak Tourism, Industry, Investment and Corridor Development Committee chairman Loh Sze Yee. Also present were EPMB executive chairman Hamidon Abdullah and Sanly China and Peps Sanly JV vice-president and director Ji Xiantao.
Hamidon stated that the facility marked the continuation of EPMB's strategic partnership with Sanly China, following the joint venture's formal establishment in February 2025. The partnership aims to build a stronger and more efficient supply chain for EPMB by leveraging Sanly China's advanced expertise in metal fabrication, assembly, and automotive chassis systems. It is also aligned with the strategic initiatives of the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority to promote technology transfer and strengthen local manufacturing capabilities. Through this joint venture, EPMB and Sanly are now the only joint venture company in Malaysia focused on automotive chassis systems.
Hamidon further mentioned that the partnership with Sanly, which has strong ties with Geely and other Chinese original equipment manufacturers, provides EPMB with direct exposure to China's advanced manufacturing ecosystem and competitive cost structures. This positions EPMB to better support Proton through greater cost efficiency and enhanced quality assurance. He emphasized that this development is another step forward in their longstanding partnership with Proton and expressed pride in collaborating with Proton to achieve its regional growth ambitions and electric vehicle roadmap, with hopes for continued success in the future.
The Peps Sanly JV facility occupies 9,909 square meters and began operations in October 2025. It has the capacity to produce 40,000 vehicle sets a month, or up to 480,000 sets annually. The facility will undertake local production of front-corner modules, subframe modules, and rear-axle modules for Proton's AMA01, Persona, and Iriz models, as well as the upcoming AMA02 and AMA05 models. In February 2025, EPMB announced the formal establishment of its joint venture with Sanly China through Peps Sanly JV to undertake local production of front-corner, subframe, and rear-axle modules for the Proton Saga AMA01.