Leveraging Malaysia’s Asean chairmanship, MARii aims to drive regional electric mobility collaboration through initiatives such as a shared EV battery passport system and harmonised safety protocols across South-East Asia. – Photo from 123rf
AS the Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii) marks its 15th anniversary, the agency is now looking to steer the country into a future of electrified, digital and sustainable mobility.
In an exclusive interview, MARii chief executive officer Azrul Reza Aziz reflected on the agency’s journey and outlined its direction in shaping Malaysia’s future mobility landscape.
Established in 2010, MARii has been a key player in structuring the country’s automotive sector.
Azrul Reza said one of its greatest contributions is offering clear direction through policy frameworks such as the National Automotive Policy (NAP), led by the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry and supported by MARii.
“We introduced clear policy frameworks like the NAP to guide both the public and private sectors,” said Azrul Reza.
He noted that the automotive industry in Malaysia now employs around 700,000 people across related sectors, including rubber, semiconductors and plastics.
“We became the bridge between government policy and industry capabilities, ensuring Malaysia is not just a place to sell cars, but also to manufacture and assemble them,” he said.
This alignment, he added, has made Malaysia a more attractive destination for foreign investors and helped strengthen the entire automotive value chain.
As Malaysia holds the Asean chairmanship this year, MARii is leveraging this regional spotlight to push for greater collaboration, particularly in the electric mobility sector.
“This is our opportunity to lead in regional automotive integration. We’re pushing initiatives like a shared battery passport system for electric vehicles and harmonised safety protocols across South-East Asia,” said Azrul Reza.
Azrul Reza: MARii is focused on impact — creating real value for our people, industries and partners. – KAMARUL ARIFFIN/TheStar
He highlighted Malaysia’s established electrical and electronics (E&E) industry and growing electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure as key strengths.
“Each country brings its strengths — Indonesia with nickel, Malaysia with semiconductors, Thailand with mass vehicle manufacturing. By integrating these, we can achieve economies of scale and strengthen Asean’s position globally,” he added.
Azrul Reza said the National Automotive Policy 2020 (NAP2020) has served as a foundation for Malaysia’s mobility transformation, particularly in energy-efficient vehicles and Industry 4.0. However, he believes the time has come to refresh the framework.
“We’re shifting from a vision-based policy to a mission-driven one. With new global trends like autonomous driving, electrification and software-defined vehicles, we need clearer, actionable goals,” he said.
A revised policy is currently being studied to keep Malaysia globally competitive and better integrate its mobility and semiconductor sectors.
As EV adoption gains momentum, Azrul Reza said MARii is focused on building a comprehensive EV ecosystem, beyond just promoting vehicle sales.
“Malaysia is making significant progress in EV adoption, supported by government incentives and expanding infrastructure,” he said.
MARii is working to strengthen the ecosystem by developing regulatory standards, supporting local industry players and investing in talent development.
“We are addressing challenges such as charging infrastructure and battery standardisation, and are developing a centralised e-mobility service platform to connect manufacturers, charging point operators and power distributors,” he said.
Efforts are also being made to implement a battery tracking system, standardised charging protocols and EV technician training.
Azrul Reza also underscored the importance of local vendors, calling them the “backbone” of the industry in the face of ongoing digitalisation and automation.
“Empowering local vendors is central to our strategy. MARii has introduced programmes such as the Supplier Competitiveness Level mapping and Industry 4.0 Readiness Assessment to help vendors scale up and integrate into global value chains.
“We facilitate export opportunities, support digitalisation and provide training in areas like robotic operating systems. These initiatives help vendors embrace advanced manufacturing and localise high-value activities,” he said.
Looking ahead, one of MARii’s major initiatives is the Global Automotive & Technology Expo (GATE 2025), aimed at positioning Malaysia as a regional hub for innovation and advanced mobility.
“GATE 2025 is envisioned as a global platform for business networking, technology transfer and cross-border collaboration,” said Azrul Reza.
The inaugural expo, to be held from Nov 12 to 14 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, will serve as a venue for local companies to connect with global original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), Tier 1 suppliers and research and development (R&D) centres.
“By bringing together local suppliers, global OEMs and industry stakeholders, the expo aims to foster innovation, attract investment and position Malaysia as a regional hub for advanced mobility,” he said.
While the Malaysia Autoshow remains a consumer-focused platform to promote awareness and boost sales, GATE 2025 will focus on strategic business-to-business engagement.
“GATE 2025 is designed as a business-to-business platform to create opportunities for local vendors to connect with global OEMs, facilitate technology transfer and drive export growth.
“By bridging the gap between suppliers and manufacturers, GATE aims to strengthen Malaysia’s position in the global automotive value chain,” said Azrul Reza.
This dual-platform strategy, he added, allows MARii to engage both public and private stakeholders while reinforcing national goals on electrification and innovation.
Over the next five years, Azrul Reza said MARii’s priorities include recalibrating national policy, scaling EV adoption, expanding local talent and enhancing Malaysia’s role in the global mobility value chain.
“We want to deepen localisation in areas like battery technology, electric motors and even e-mobility software. Malaysia’s strength in semiconductors is a natural advantage,” he said.
MARii will continue forging global partnerships while working with local universities, training institutes and startups to develop a future-ready talent pool.
Besides electrification, sustainability is also a major focus for MARii, which is promoting circular economy practices such as battery reuse, end-of-life recycling and digital traceability.
These are achieved through strategies like reducing consumption, increasing recyclability and designing products for longer lifecycles.
“Sustainability isn’t just about emissions, it’s about reducing waste, extending lifecycles and making supply chains more intelligent,” he said.
The institute is also exploring blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions to track material usage, monitor battery health and optimise fleet management in line with global environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals.
As MARii moves into its next chapter, Azrul Reza said the agency remains committed to evolving its role from a policy advisor to an ecosystem enabler and from a national facilitator to a regional leader.
“We’ve built the foundation. Now we’re focused on impact - creating real value for our people, our industries and our partners,” he concluded.
