Malaysia's transport equipment industry covers the automotive, aerospace, shipbuilding and shiprepairing sub-sectors, with the automotive sub-sector being the largest .
Prior to the 1960s, automobiles were imported into Malaysia as completely built-up units (CBU). Local assembly of completely knocked-down (CKD) kits started in the 1960s. While some components and accessories were sourced domestically, the automotive assembly industry was largely dependent on imports.
The launching of Malaysia's first national car project, Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional or PROTON in 1983, catalysed the development of the ancillary and supporting industries by creating opportunities for growth in the manufacturing of component parts and accessories. PROTON's strategy of producing quality cars at competitive prices is to progressively increase their local content.
To-date, there are four national automotive projects, ten assemblers and three composite body sports car manufacturers in the country that manufacture/assemble a wide range of makes and models.
