PETALING JAYA: Bus Cap Bhd, a bus builder listed on Bursa Malaysia, has entered into a MoU with BYD Malaysia Sdn Bhd to jointly advance a Malaysia-based new energy commercial vehicle (NECV) platform, anchored by the proposed establishment of a localised electric bus assembly and manufacturing facility in Perak.
The proposed cooperation is expected to cover product localisation, sales, marketing and distribution; comprehensive after-sales services; local assembly and manufacturing; and the evaluation of an appropriate investment and operating structure to support the proposed platform.
Over time, the parties may also evaluate the potential extension of the cooperation beyond electric buses into other new energy commercial and industrial mobility applications including electric trucks, electric forklifts, electric vans or minibuses and rail-transit-related solutions, subject to market demand, technical feasibility and definitive agreements.
In a statement yesterday, Bus Cap said this proposed cooperation represents a major post-listing milestone for the company.
While bus manufacturing remains the group’s operating foundation, the MoU provides a clear industrial pathway for Bus Cap to participate in Malaysia’s electric commercial vehicle transition — from traditional bus-building towards localised electric bus manufacturing, after-sales support and lifecycle mobility solutions.
Perak, the site of Bus Cap’s manufacturing heritage since 1968 through its flagship subsidiary Sin Hock Leong Coach Works Sdn Bhd (SHL Coach), provides an established industrial base to execute this next phase of growth.
The timing of this initiative aligns directly with a structural transition across Malaysia’s public transport sector. Prasarana Malaysia Bhd recently confirmed that its ongoing procurement of 310 diesel-engine buses will be its final intake of internal combustion engine vehicles before shifting entirely to electric platforms by 2037.
Furthermore, under the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), the national operator plans to integrate over 1,100 electric buses between 2025 and 2030, alongside 150 electric feeder buses for the upcoming LRT Shah Alam Line.
This structural shift towards electric mobility is expected to create long-term demand for localised electric bus assembly, engineering support, after-sales infrastructure and reliable lifecycle solutions — areas where Bus Cap is positioning itself to play a meaningful role.
Bus Cap executive director Bernard Ng Chong Yan said: “The signing of this exclusive MoU with BYD Malaysia marks a defining step in Bus Cap’s post-listing growth journey. BYD brings advanced new energy vehicle technology, solutions and global experience, while Bus Cap brings local manufacturing capabilities, engineering know-how, industry relationships, after-sales infrastructure and an established operating platform.”
He added that this is not merely about introducing electric buses into Malaysia but also about building a local industrial platform that can support product localisation, assembly, manufacturing, after-sales and lifecycle mobility solutions.
“By combining BYD’s new energy vehicle capabilities with Bus Cap’s local platform, we believe there is a meaningful opportunity to strengthen Malaysia’s electric bus ecosystem and position Bus Cap for the next phase of growth. Our ambition for Bus Cap has always been bigger than simply building vehicles. We want to build, connect and support the full lifecycle of transportation assets — from manufacturing and delivery to after-sales, maintenance and future mobility solutions,” said Ng.
Meanwhile, Luo Zhongliang, vice-president of BYD and general manager of BYD commercial vehicle division said they believe the combination of BYD’s new energy vehicle technology and Bus Cap’s local industrial platform can create a strong foundation for electric bus assembly, manufacturing and deployment in Malaysia.
Looking ahead, he added they look forward to working quickly and pragmatically with Bus Cap to evaluate broader new energy commercial and industrial mobility applications, including electric trucks, electric forklifts, electric vans or minibuses and rail-transit-related solutions, where market demand, localisation conditions and definitive arrangements support such expansion.
“This cooperation also provides an important strategic starting point for both parties to explore future opportunities in the wider Southeast Asian market.”
Bus Cap’s existing operations remain anchored by SHL Coach, servicing a highly diversified customer base of transport operators, travel companies, vehicle dealers, and government agencies across Malaysia and Singapore.
The group’s long-term vision is to build from its Malaysian bus-manufacturing foundation into a trusted integrated mobility platform serving customers across manufacturing, localisation, after-sales support and lifecycle transportation solutions — guided by its operating philosophy: Build. Connect. Support.
