By Nur Ashikin Abdul Aziz
SINGAPORE, May 6 (Bernama) -- The ASEAN Unity Drive 2025 (AUD2025), now in its final leg, is driving momentum towards establishing a regional automotive collaboration aimed at strengthening policy integration and technological collaboration across ASEAN.
Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii) deputy chief executive officer Nizmar Mohd Nazar said the proposed collaboration would play a key role in formulating unified policies on infrastructure and emerging automotive technologies.
“That is one of the big agendas for AUD2025. It’s not officially announced yet, but we hope that next year we can continue gathering insights and data,” he said at the AUD2025 flagging-off ceremony held at the Malaysian High Commission in Singapore on Tuesday.
He added that one key example of such collaboration is the creation of an ASEAN e-Mobility Service Platform (eMSP) to enable seamless cross-border interoperability of electric vehicle charging stations throughout ASEAN countries, a vital step toward building a truly integrated regional EV ecosystem.
The ceremony which was officiated by the Malaysia High Commissioner to Singapore Datuk Dr Azfar Mohamad Mustafar was joined by envoys and representatives from ASEAN embassies and high commissions here.
Azfar said AUD2025 reflects Malaysia’s theme for its ASEAN Chairmanship, "Inclusivity and Sustainability" and the country’s forward-looking leadership in championing sustainable and inclusive mobility across the region.
“I believe AUD2025 successfully achieved its goal of raising awareness on the importance of sustainability. It opens the eyes of communities across ASEAN to the importance of every individual’s role in achieving these goals,” he said.
Organised by MARii, AUD2025 features six Proton e.MAS 7 and four X Series cars traversing two separate routes, covering 9,000 kilometres across nine ASEAN nations.
The northern route began in Hanoi, Vietnam, passing through Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand before reaching Malaysia.
Meanwhile, the southern route started in Pontianak, Indonesia, travelling through Jakarta, Bandar Seri Begawan in Brunei, Manila in the Philippines, and Singapore, before converging in Malaysia.
The journey will culminate at the Malaysia Autoshow 2025, to be held at MAEPS, Serdang from May 9 to 15.
-- BERNAMA
