KUALA LUMPUR, 19 May 2025 – At the PwC Automotive ASEAN Conference, held today at M Resort & Hotel, PwC Malaysia and the Malaysia Automotive Robotics & IoT Institute (MARii) marked a significant milestone with the formal handing over of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The MoU represents a mutual commitment to foster a strategic partnership aimed at advancing the automotive sector in Malaysia and the broader ASEAN region.
The MoU formalises a knowledge partnership that facilitates knowledge exchange and industry advancement between PwC Malaysia and MARii. This partnership is designed to consolidate Malaysia’s stature within the global automotive industry, bolster Malaysia’s initiatives and leadership during its tenure as ASEAN Chair and deliver data-centric insights that underpin Malaysia’s automotive policy formulation and investment strategies.
Nurul A’in Abdul Latif, Executive Chair, PwC Malaysia said:
‘The automotive industry is undergoing profound change—driven by shifts in technology, regulation, investment priorities and consumer preferences. This MoU creates a foundation for more meaningful exchange between policy and industry, helping ensure that efforts are grounded in insight, promotes upskilling through knowledge sharing, and aligned with national priorities. We are excited to partner with MARii to drive industry transformation and provide advisory support, through our expertise in automotive deals ranging from strategic planning to execution and post-deal integration.’
Azrul Reza Aziz. Chief Executive Officer, Malaysia Automotive Robotics & IoT Institute said:
‘Malaysia’s long-term industrial strength will depend not only on scale alone, but on our ability to shape and sustain ecosystems that are cohesive and forward-looking. As mobility technologies evolve, the country’s priority is to ensure innovation translates into real industrial capability. By partnering with PwC Malaysia, we’re adding deeper data capabilities and global perspectives to our work, so that national policies can be more responsive to real market trends and investor needs.’
The ceremony featured a symbolic exchange between Nurul and Ts. Nizmar Mohd Nazar, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of MARii. Soo Hoo Khoon Yean, Managing Partner at PwC Malaysia, Patrick Ziechmann, PwC’s ASEAN Automotive Leader and Yang Berbahagia Datuk (DR.) Aminar Rashid, Chairman of MARii witnessed the exchange.
The conference also convened regional PwC leaders and industrial key players to discuss cutting-edge strategies redefining the industry’s future, as well as exploring four major trends reshaping the automotive industry—electric, shared, connected and autonomous driving—along with sustainability issues such as the circular economy. The event concluded with closing remarks delivered by Patrick Ziechmann.