KUALA LUMPUR: Samsung SDI Energy Malaysia Sdn Bhd (Samsung SDIEM) has opened Phase Two of its EV battery cell manufacturing facility in Seremban, Negri Sembilan.
A cumulative RM7 billion investment is injected by Samsung SDIEM in opening its first production location in Southeast Asia and the first electric vehicle (EV) battery cell facility in Malaysia.
The ground-breaking ceremony was done by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, as well as Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun and ambassador of South Korea to Malaysia Lee Chi Beom.
Also present were Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) deputy chief executive officer (investment development) Lim Bee Vian and Samsung SDI Co Ltd (South Korea) Yoon Ho Choi.
Since 1991, Samsung SDIEM's parent Samsung SDI has stamped its footprint in Malaysia, starting off with the manufacturing of cathode ray tube (CRT) under Samsung Electron Devices (SEDM).
SEDM later changed its name to Samsung SDIEM, embarking on lithium-ion cell manufacturing in September 2011 until May 2022, where Samsung SDI invested a total of RM2.8 billion.
In return, over RM2.5 billion of annual export was generated, creating 2,500 Malaysian workforce through Samsung SDIEM.
"With the construction of this new factory, it will create 1,300 job opportunities for rakyat Malaysia.
"I appreciate the role played by Samsung SDIEM in developing the industry based on green technology.
"This is in line with the goals of the country to achieve a zero-carbon nation as early as 2050 as stated in the 12th Malaysia Plan strategy," said Ismail Sabri.
Senior Minister and International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali said Samsung SDIEM's expansion aligned with the National Automotive Policy 2020 (NAP 2020) which addressed growing trends within the industry.
"The opening of this assembly facility in Negri Sembilan will benefit more Malaysian talents, especially high-skilled engineers in terms of capacity building as the company expands their footprint in the Asean region," he said.