KYB-UMW and Hubei Henglong Partner to Boost Electric Power Steering System Production in Malaysia
KYB-UMW Malaysia Sdn Bhd (KYB-UMW) and China’s Hubei Henglong Automotive System Group Co, Ltd (Hubei Henglong) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a strategic partnership aimed at advancing automotive steering system production in Malaysia.
The collaboration will explore opportunities in both the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and Replacement Equipment Manufacturer (REM) markets, catering to Malaysia and the broader ASEAN region.
The MoU was signed at the UMW High Value Manufacturing Park by Mr. Yuji Ito, Managing Director of KYB-UMW Malaysia Sdn Bhd, and Mr. Gan Hongjun, Senior Vice President of Hubei Henglong Automotive System Group Co, Ltd. The signing was witnessed by En. Ami Akhram Abdullah, Director of Manufacturing & Engineering at Sime UMW, and Mr. Ricky Yang, Vice President of Hubei Henglong. Also present was Dato’ Mustamir Mohamad, Managing Director of Sime UMW.
This partnership signals KYB-UMW’s expansion into advanced steering technologies, including the local manufacture of Electric Power Steering (EPS) and Manual Steering Gear (MSG) components. Through this agreement, Hubei Henglong will provide KYB-UMW with technical expertise to support steering system production and localization efforts.
“This collaboration opens long-term opportunities for KYB-UMW to move up the automotive value chain,” said Dato’ Mustamir Mohamad, Managing Director of Sime UMW. “Working with Hubei Henglong allows us to localise advanced steering technologies and build the foundation for KYB-UMW’s next stage of growth.”
The initiative aligns with Malaysia’s broader goal of strengthening high-value manufacturing and boosting localisation within the national automotive supply chain.
“This partnership with KYB-UMW marks an important step in our regional growth strategy,” said Mr. Ricky Yang, Vice President of Hubei Henglong. “By combining Hengleng’s expertise in advanced steering technologies with KYB-UMW’s strong local presence and manufacturing capabilities, we are confident in our ability to deliver high-quality, locally produced steering systems to Malaysian and ASEAN markets.”
The partnership is expected to further solidify Malaysia’s position as a competitive hub for advanced automotive technology production in the region.
