Malaysia Autoshow And Bangkok International Motor Show Organizers Sign MOU

The organizers of the Malaysia Autoshow and the Bangkok International Motor Show (BIMS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for future collaboration. The Malaysia Automotive Institute (MAI) and Aideah Communication Sdn Bhd (the organizers of the Malaysia Autoshow)  and Grand Prix International Public Company Limited of Thailand (GPI), the organizers of the Bangkok International Motor Show have agreed to come together to enhance the promotion of automotive technology within ASEAN, through cross-promotional initiatives.

For your information, GPI is a public listed company in Thailand and besides being the Bangkok International Motor Show organizer, also has interests in the Cambodia, Myanmar and Indonesia motor shows, as well as publisher of automotive magazines and newspapers.

Motor / auto shows are a powerful communication platform, and a collaboration between the two neighboring ASEAN manufacturing centers will enable a more effective transmission of information and promotion regarding the disruptive changes sweeping the global and regional car industry ranging from alternative fuels, electric vehicles, autonomous cars, ride-hailing and such.

Future collaboration may involve GPI investing a minority stake in the Malaysia Autoshow, as it has done in other regional markets but this is yet to be confirmed. For GPI, it doesn’t see motor / auto shows in the region as competitors. Rather, successful motor / auto shows in neighboring countries help the regional automotive industry and also the Thai parts manufacturing industry. It is also the objective of MAI’s collaboration with GPI to enhance the synergy of related parties to help automotive companies to tailor-
make their technology endeavors in the ASEAN region.

The BIMS organizer has 37 motor shows to its credit, while the Malaysia Autoshow organizer have held six shows annually since 2010.

“We are happy to be in Malaysia and looking forward to collaborate with the Malaysia Autoshow. This year is a first step but important start to our relationship,” said Dr Prachin Eamlumnow, chairman and CEO Grand Prix International Public Company Limited of Thailand.

“All over the world, the automotive industry is experiencing mergers and platform sharing. Similarly too, the ASEAN region will see a greater integration of auto shows as an important platform. I’m confident of the
powerful synergy between the Bangkok International Motor Show and the Malaysia Autoshow,” he said further.

Dato’ Madani Sahari, chief executive officer of MAI, which organizes its flagship Malaysia Autoshow, said that a cooperation between the two motorshow organizers was timely. “The automotive industry is in the early stages of a disruptive change that will gradually usher in new technologies, such as electric vehicles and autonomous driving, within the next decade,” said Dato’ Madani.

“This is going to create a huge demand for techno-centric skill sets from diverse sectors, including big data management, nano-technology software engineering, as well as advanced control systems, manufacturing
processes and materials. It’s going to be a challenging environment that creates huge demand for new core sciences,” he added.

Thus, motorshows will serve as a platform to showcase, communicate and educate the public of new and disruptive technologies like electric vehicles and ride-hailing.

On the Malaysia Autoshow, which will be held from 10 – 13 November, at the Mines International Exhibition and Trade Centre, Dato’ Madani announced that assemblers of Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) will demonstrate and give rides in their assembled-in-Malaysia PHEV’s during the show.

The Malaysia Autoshow 2016 is set to be become the biggest composite annual automotive show in Malaysia with more than 150 exhibitors from renowned vehicle brands, aftermarket and accessory products laying out
their extensive product range during the event.

One of the highlights at the Autoshow will be the unveiling of Malaysia’s first electric passenger vehicle, which is a joint venture between Beijing Auto International Cooperation (BAIC) and Amber Dual Sdn Bhd.

Visitors will also get to view all the cars launched in 2016 under one roof, with test drives in the outdoor arena of the Exhibition Centre.

Visitors who place bookings on a passenger car at the Malaysia Autoshow also stand to win a Kia Rio X 1.4 Sedan worth RM78,000 in the “Buy a Car, Win a Kia” contest sponsored by Naza Kia Malaysia Sdn Bhd.

Other activities lined up at the Autoshow include free car inspection, lifestyle booths, plenty of shopping and attractive prizes to be won including 3 Treeletrik E-bikes.

Entrance fee to the Autoshow is RM 10.00 (adult) but students, with valid Student IDs, will be allowed free entry on 10 and 11 November (Thursday and Friday).

More information can be found at www.autoshow.com.my.