Xpeng says it plans to turn Malaysia into a strategic base for expanding right-hand-drive vehicle production across ASEAN. Judging by the brand’s recent steps in the region, the plan looks like a natural progression.

Although the company has not specified which models would be assembled in Malaysia, it currently sells the G6 SUV and the X9 MPV in the country. The latter became Xpeng’s first model produced outside China when an Indonesian-assembled vehicle appeared in July.

As for EP Manufacturing Bhd (EPMB), it previously operated solely as a tier-one components supplier. Now EPMB handles contract assembly for Great Wall Motor (GWM) and BAIC, and will soon do the same for the MG brand.