EPMB gets approval for 2-wheel EVs

EPMB’s electric bike, Blueshark R1

KUALA LUMPUR: EP Manufacturing Bhd (EPMB) has secured approval from the Malaysian government to register and license its first-ever two-wheel electric vehicles (EVs).

In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, EPMB said the national committee for vehicle type approval (VTA) and homologation, Road Transport Department (JPJ) had approved the VTA for Blueshark SG3000DT model, or Blueshark R1 under the Malaysia Road Transport Act 1987.

Certificate for the VTA has been issued to EP Blueshark Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of EPMB, it said.

It added that the VTA allows EPMB’s electric bike Blueshark R1 to be road registered and licensed by JPJ.

Executive chairman Hamidon Abdullah said with the VTA approval, the company is one step closer to capturing the projected demand for two-wheel EVs in Malaysia.

“Simultaneously, our partners in other ASEAN countries such as Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam have also applied the equivalent VTA for Blueshark R1 in their respective countries, and this will complement EPMB’s manufacturing activities.

“Our venture into the two-wheel EV business is well supported by the technical know-how of China-based Sharkgulf Technologies Group Limited. This is in conjunction with a strong funding base from international investors who are focused on ESG. This should set us on a sustained growth path, moving ahead,” he said.

In addition to the manufacturing plant and a sales and distribution centre in Malaysia, EPMB will also establish a research and development centre, which will share technical know-how and resources to Sharkgulf’s Gigafactory in Qingdao West Coast New Area.

Hamidon said a manufacturing base with shared R&D efforts in Malaysia would address cost structures to make EPMB’s two-wheeled EVs cost effective.

On July 25, EP Blueshark received conditional approval from the International Trade and Industry Ministry on its application for assembly of electric bikes under the Industrial Co-ordination Act 1975 [Act 156].

This is subject to the conditions to be fulfilled by EP Blueshark within six months from the letter of approval.