KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 7): DRB-Hicom Bhd has inked two agreements which will see its involvement in the collaboration and development of automotive testing.

In two separate Bursa Malaysia filings today, the group said its indirect subsidiary Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Sdn Bhd or PONSB (owned by Proton Holdings Bhd) had inked a memorandum of understanding (Mou) today with China Automotive Technology and Research Centre Co Ltd (CATARC) to collaborate in the field of automotive testing, research and development, as well as to maximize resources of China and Malaysia’s automotive industry.

“This strategic cooperation will add value to Proton, as it will become a strategic platform to explore potential business synergy between both parties — among others, strategic cooperation for Next Generation Vehicles and establishing potentials for revenue generation for both entities.

“PONSB will also work together with CATARC in maximizing the experiences and knowledge of both entities, as well as to forge strategic cooperation in other areas of automotive businesses such as standards, testing, global certification, facilities sharing, intelligent analysis, brand promotion and management system certification,” it said.

DRB also inked an MoU with Malaysia Automotive, Robotics And IoT Institute (MARii), to develop academic programmes, as well as to establish an Autonomous, Automated and Connected Vehicle test bed in Cyberjaya. It will also develop a National Automotive Testing Centre in Tanjung Malim, it said.

DRB said the MoU serves as a strategic platform for the parties to explore means of collaborating towards the success of furthering Malaysia’s automotive industry development.

The MoU with CATARC will last one year, whereas the MoU with MARii will last 24 months.

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