KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 28: The second Global Automotive and Technology Expo (GATE 2026) concluded today, generating RM947.5 million in potential business opportunities and attracting 10,487 visitors over three days. Held from 26 to 28 August at MITEC, the three-day expo featured 200 exhibiting companies from across the automotive and technology sectors.
The closing ceremony was officiated by YBhg, Dato’ Mastura Ahmad Mustafa, Deputy Secretary General (Trade), Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) and attended by YB Datuk Dr. Haji Hazland Abang Hipni, Deputy Minister for Energy and Environmental Sustainability Sarawak, alongside industry leaders, government agencies, investors and international delegates.
In her remarks,YBhg. Dato’ Mastura said the outcomes achieved during GATE 2026 reflected growing confidence in Malaysia’s automotive capabilities and the nation’s potential to become a stronger regional manufacturing and mobility hub.
“The results of GATE 2026 demonstrate the strength and potential of Malaysia’s automotive ecosystem. Our focus now is to translate these opportunities into quality investments, skilled employment and greater participation by Malaysian companies in regional and global supply chains.
“As Malaysia advances its industrial transformation agenda under the National Automotive Policy 2020 and the New Industrial Master Plan 2030, collaboration between government, industry and technology partners will remain essential in strengthening competitiveness, accelerating localization and creating long-term economic value.
” Hosted by the Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii), together with event partner Derrisen Sdn Bhd, GATE 2026 brought together vehicle manufacturers, suppliers, technology companies, investors, policymakers and researchers.
The expo facilitated 39 business-matching sessions involving 28 companies. Through GATE Connect, 40 participating companies held direct discussions on sourcing, procurement and technology collaboration. Foreign and international automotive players, including GWM, Jetour and Chery, met face-to-face with Malaysian and regional vendors to identify sourcing opportunities and bridge capability gaps across the value chain.
MARii Chief Executive Officer, Ts Azrul Reza Aziz, said the results demonstrated GATE’s growing role as a platform that converts industry engagement into tangible business opportunities.
“GATE 2026 was more than an exhibition. It connected the entire automotive and mobility value chain and translated conversations into measurable opportunities in sourcing, investment, technology and market access. The participation recorded this year, together with the potential sales, procurement opportunities and strategic partnerships generated, reflects growing confidence in Malaysia’s capabilities and in our ambition to become a global mobility hub’
“MARii will continue supporting these companies as they pursue the leads generated at GATE, strengthen their capabilities and expand into new markets as mandated by National Automotive Policy (NAP2020).”
The closing ceremony also featured MARii’s handover of KIA Sportage 1.6 Turbo Gasoline engines to 10 institutions under its CSR-driven Automotive TVET Development Initiative. A total of 80 engines will benefit more than 30 institutions, supporting hands-on training and the development of industry-ready automotive talent.
MARii and MIDA Bring Industry and Investors Together
The GATE Conference, co-organised by MARii and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), attracted 106 participants. Themed “Building the Next Automotive Powerhouse,” it featured 20 speakers discussing localisation, smart manufacturing, sustainable investment, future mobility and ASEAN’s EV charging infrastructure.
Complementing the conference, MIDA hosted a dedicated pavilion featuring five companies: PMB Aluminium, Chery Corporate Malaysia, Pecca Leather, Tomcare Resources and Xenso Tech. The pavilion showcased Made-in-Malaysia products, technologies and industrial capabilities, while enabling participating companies to build connections with international manufacturers, investors and supply-chain partners.
Datuk Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid, Chief Executive Officer of MIDA, said the pavilion reflected the agency’s commitment to accelerating high-value investment and strengthening Malaysian companies’ participation in international supply chains.
“GATE 2026 affirms Malaysia’s readiness to deepen localization and strengthen its standing in the regional and global automotive value chain. The opportunities generated here reflect a growing confidence among global makers that Malaysian suppliers can meet world standards, and among local companies that they belong in the front ranks of the supply chain.
Malaysia offers a compelling proposition: advanced manufacturing capabilities, an established automotive ecosystem, skilled talent and strategic access to ASEAN. MIDA remains committed to bridging global companies with Malaysian suppliers, accelerating technology adoption, and ensuring that quality investment opens real pathways for local companies to move up the value chain.
” Among the companies exhibiting at GATE 2026 were national automotive manufacturer PROTON, together with GWM, Siemens, Multi-Code Electronics Industries, EP Manufacturing Berhad (EPMB) and Beijing Jingwei Hirain Technologies (HIRAIN).
GATE 2026 was supported by PROTON and PERODUA as Platinum Partners, GWM as Gold Partner, and Siemens as Strategic Digital Industry Partner.
The event also nurtured future mobility talent through the NxGV Challenge 2026 National Bootcamp, which challenged students from institutions of higher learning to develop solutions spanning hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), electric vehicles (EVs) and driverless vehicles (DVs). The competition was spearheaded by MARii with the support of industry partners.
GATE 2026 was co-located with Sustainability Environment Asia, reinforcing the close relationship between next-generation mobility, responsible manufacturing and environmental stewardship.
For more information, visit www.gatexpo.my
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GATE is endorsed by Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) and Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE)
Strategic Partners: Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), Malaysia Board of Technologist (MBOT), InvestPenang, Electric Vehicle Association of Malaysia (EVAM), Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA), Malaysian Automotive Component Parts Manufacturers (MACPMA), Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association (MSIA), Malaysian Autonomous Intelligence & Robotics Association (MyAIRA), Malaysia IoT Association (MyIoTA, Proton Vendors Association (PVA), Perodua Suppliers Association (P2SA).
Local Supporting Partners: Collaborative Research in Engineering, Science & Technology (CREST), The Selangor and Federal Territory Engineering & Motor Parts Traders Association (EMPTA), Malaysia Automotive Recyclers Association (MAARA), Malaysia Used Vehicle Autoparts Traders Association (MUVATA), The Electrical and Electronics Association of Malaysia (TEEAM), Malaysia Association of Sustainable Supply Chain & Innovation (MASSCI).
International Supporting Partners: Asian Federation of Electric Vehicle Associations (AFEVA), Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP), Electric Vehicle Association of Singapore (EVAS), Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand (EVAT), Indonesian Electric Vehicle Industry Association (PERIKLINDO), Korea Automotive Industry Globalization Foundation (AinGlobal), Policy Times Chamber of Commerce (PTCC), Asosiasi Industri Motor Listrik Indonesia (AISMOLI). ==============================================================
Notes to Editors
Malaysia Automotive, Robotics & IoT Institute (MARii) is an agency under the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI). Serving as the focal point, coordination centre and think tank for the nation’s automotive industry, it functions to enhance technology, human capital, supply chain, market outreach and aftersales capabilities of all automotive stakeholders and ecosystems.
MARii serves to spur the development of smart systems through the implementation of digital technologies with a special focus on big data analytics and artificial intelligence, including automotive and connected mobility ecosystem. (www.marii.my).
Derrisen Sdn Bhd is a specialist in delivering impactful trade events and conferences for businesses and industries to create sustainable high performance and growth. We bring you a deeply passionate and experienced team of organisers to deliver leading industry and lifestyle portfolios in Southeast Asia to help our clients achieve their business goals and shared purpose of building positive relationships for long-term success.
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