Malaysia is poised to launch small-scale production of its domestically developed, graphene-enhanced lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles this month. This initiative, spearheaded by Gigafactory Malaysia Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of the government-controlled NanoMalaysia Bhd, represents a significant step in the country's efforts to enhance its technological manufacturing capabilities and strengthen its EV supply chain. NanoMalaysia's CEO, Rezal Khairi Ahmad, highlighted that this project is likely the first of its kind in ASEAN for producing batteries based on homegrown technology, with aspirations to export to Indonesia, South Korea, India, and Pakistan.
The graphene-enhanced lithium-ion battery cells, developed at a cost of approximately 20 million Malaysian Ringgit (around $5 million), are located at a 1,500-square-meter facility in the Suria Industrial Park. The facility is expected to reach its maximum production capacity of 1 MWh annually, equivalent to 92,000 battery cells, as early as September. These batteries, utilizing nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) chemistry, are projected to offer a driving range of up to 640 kilometers and can achieve a full charge in just 12 minutes with fast charging capabilities.
Simultaneously, Huawei Technologies aims for ambitious growth in its smartphone shipments, targeting an increase of over 20% this year. The company plans to ship as many as 60 million smartphones, up from less than 50 million in the previous year. This growth is sought despite persistent memory chip shortages and the ongoing recovery from U.S. export controls. Huawei also held a product launch event in Malaysia, signaling its intent to boost its overseas presence.
