NAP 2020: What Do the "Rakyat" Want to See?

The new National Automotive Policy (NAP 2020) was just announced last week after much anticipation, and as we expected, it raised more questions than answers.

In brief, here are the key takeaways:

• The NAP 2020 has “three main directions”: Technology and Engineering, Investment, and Market Expansion.
• The NAP 2020 has “three main strategies”: Value Chain Development, Human Capital Development, and Safety, Environment and Consumerism.
• It consists of seven roadmaps/ blueprints that detail out the implementation plan.
• The roadmaps will continuously be reviewed and updated to keep up with new tech and global trends.
• Customised incentives mechanism (which opaquely dictates the pricing of new CKD vehicles) will be continued based on cost-benefit analysis and investor proposals.
• The government will introduce elements of consumer rights and protections related to spare parts, maintenance, and recalls.
• The NAP 2020 will be followed through with numerous outreach campaigns, conferences, and stakeholder engagements.

The government has also identified key targets which it hopes it will achieve by 2030:

• Total GDP Contribution: RM104.2 billion (Currently around 40 billion)
• Total Industry Volume (Passenger and Commercial Vehicles): 1.22 million units (604.2k in 2019)
• Total production volume (Passenger and Commercial Vehicles): 1.47 million units (571.6k in 2019)
• Exports of Motor Vehicles (CBU): RM 12.3 billion
• Exports of New Automotive Parts & Components: RM28.3 billion
• Exports of Remanufactured Parts & Components: RM10 billion
• Total new employment opportunities: 323,000

If the government really goes all-out and pushes to achieve all of the above, it could translate into a couple of things like more affordable next generation vehicles (NxGV) and more job opportunities in the automotive industry.

More than flying cars and self-driving cars, what the rakyat really want are more affordable EEVs and of course, more job opportunities which you know, can help a lot of folks actually buy a car in the first place.

How do we know this? Well, Carlist.my actually ran a poll on our Facebook page on the day the NAP 2020 was announced, asking our readers what is the outcome they are expecting to see through the plan, and the two highest responses were “cheaper EEVs” and “job opportunities”.

While nothing much was shared on how the government plans to achieve all the goals listed above, we do hope that they materialise, as it would bring Malaysia up to speed with the global automotive landscape, and also boost our economy.  

That being said, what would you like to see from NAP 2020?

Let us know!