MARii LAUNCHES VOLUNTARY NxGV LABELLING SCHEME AND CELEBRATES YOUTH INNOVATION DRIVING ASEAN GREEN MOBILITY LEADERSHIP
Released on: Tuesday, 13 May 2025 9:39AM
MARii CEO, Azrul Reza Aziz with MITI Deputy Secretary General (Industry), Datuk Hanafi Sakri officiating the NxGV labeling scheme
SERDANG, May 13 (Bernama) -- In conjunction with Malaysia Autoshow 2025, Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii) officially launched the Voluntary Next Generation Vehicle (NxGV) Labelling Scheme, a milestone initiative under the National Automotive Policy 2020 (NAP2020) aimed at accelerating Malaysia’s transition to green and intelligent mobility, while reinforcing its leadership within the ASEAN region.
In the same spirit of innovation, MARii also held the NxGV Challenge 2025 Prize Giving Ceremony, celebrating youth-led breakthroughs in electric vehicle (EV) design and development, co-organised by MARii and SAE Malaysia, supported by PERODUA. The dual milestone reflects Malaysia’s proactive stance under its ASEAN Chairmanship in driving the region’s transition towards low carbon, connected mobility solutions, while nurturing the next generation of automotive talent.
Positioned as a voluntary compliance and innovation framework, the NxGV Labelling Scheme sets a new benchmark for vehicles that meet advanced criteria in energy efficiency, automation (minimum Level 3), and connectivity. It provides OEMs, including electric and autonomous vehicle manufacturers, with a powerful tool to distinguish their technologies in an evolving marketplace both locally and regionally.
“The NxGV label is more than a compliance badge, it’s a strategic signal of innovation, sustainability, and ASEAN leadership. Under Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship, we are proud to align our national mobility ambitions with regional priorities, creating a shared future where Next Generation Vehicles drive progress across borders,” said Azrul Reza Aziz, CEO of MARii.
This label aligns with Malaysia's ambitious goal to reduce carbon emissions by 45% by 2030, in line with the Paris Agreement and complements national efforts to develop a competitive NxGV ecosystem that supports green technology adoption, industrial digitalisation, and future mobility innovation. It also aligns with Malaysia's ambitious goal to achieve Carbon Neutrality by 2050, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition to a sustainable economy.
‘’Vehicle labelling today must go beyond emissions, it must speak to intelligence, connectivity, and automation,” said Datuk Hanafi Sakri, the Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI). “Malaysia’s NxGV Labelling Scheme sets that standard. It reflects our commitment to position Malaysia, and by extension ASEAN, at the centre of the global shift towards sustainable and hightechnology mobility.”
Also held during the event was the NxGV Challenge 2025 Prize Giving Ceremony, which recognised Malaysia’s brightest young talents in EV innovation. The challenge, which began in December 2024, empowered university and polytechnic students to design, build, and race open-wheel, formula-style electric vehicles. It also required teams to submit technical papers under SAE Malaysia’s research platform, boosting local R&D capabilities.
Ts. Zulhaidi Jawi, Chairperson of SAE Malaysia, said that ‘’SAE Malaysia is honored to co-develop a platform that integrates academic excellence with applied EV innovation, these students are not just competing, they are shaping the future of mobility in Malaysia and ASEAN.”
Perodua President and Chief Executive Officer, Dato’ Sri Zainal Abidin Ahmad, said the institutions of higher learning’s involvement does not only apply to intellectual findings but also in bridging the gap between academia and industry. “Perodua’s role has always been and always will be to develop the Malaysian automotive ecosystem, and this includes preparing the next generation to embrace EV technology as this is the way forward,” he added.
The competition included two main stages: Static Events (covering design, cost analysis, and business presentation models) and Dynamic Events (acceleration, endurance, and efficiency trials).
NxGV Challenge 2025 Winners
Champion: Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah
1st Runner Up: Politeknik Kota Bharu
2nd Runner Up: Politeknik Sultan Azlan Shah
Special Awards
- Best Safety Award: Politeknik Sultan Azlan Shah
- Best Design (Styling): Politeknik Port Dickson
- Best Commitment: Institut Latihan Perindustrian Kuala Lumpur
- Best Paper Award : Daing Nafiz, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah
With Malaysia leading ASEAN in 2025, initiatives like the NxGV Labelling Scheme and the NxGV Challenge showcase the country’s vision to be a regional hub for sustainable, intelligent, and inclusive mobility, making Malaysia not only a leader in innovation, but a catalyst for ASEAN’s green transformation.
ABOUT MARii
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.
To find out more about MARii, please visit us at www.marii.my
SOURCE : Malaysia Automotive, Robotics & IoT Institute (MARii)
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Corporate Communications, MARii
Email: nurulainaa@marii. my / aliah@marii.my
Tel: 6010 239 6969 / 6013 3751961
--BERNAMA