KUALA LUMPUR: The East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC) achieved another milestone in spearheading the development of recreational vehicle (RV) industry in Malaysia with the award of the first Vehicle Type Approval (VTA) to Knaus Tabbert AG, Europe’s leading manufacturer for RVs.
The VTA certificate was handed over by Road Transport Department (JPJ) director-general Datuk Zailani Hashim to Knaus Tabbert AG chief executive officer Wolfgang Speck.
ECERDC has been spearheading the RV industry development since 2021 and had facilitated the visit by delegation from Caravaning Verband e.V. (CIVD), which represents German RV players when they visited the East Coast Economic Region in February to explore investment and business opportunities in the RV Industry as well as to identify potential locations to develop RV parks in the ECER.
ECERDC chief executive officer Datuk Baidzawi Che Mat said the VTA approval would attract more investments into this sector and spur the RV industry in Malaysia.
“This will eventually bring in the supply chain for the production of RV parts in the future and create employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for the locals especially in the ECER region,” said YBhg. Dato’ Baidzawi Che Mat, the Chief Executive Officer of ECERDC.
CIVD managing director Daniel Onggowinarso commented that the VTA approval would aid the initiatives to establish ECER as the RV hub and put Malaysia on the map for RV enthusiasts.
“This is part of our collaboration initiative with ECERDC in bringing German RV players to Malaysia to grow the RV industry and expand opportunities in the Asia Pacific market,” he said.
Speck expressed his optimism on the growth potential of the RV industry in Malaysia and looked forward to working together with ECERDC to set up RV manufacturing facility in the ECER region.
“The demand for RV industry has shown a significant increase globally and this market is projected to grow into a potential multibillion-dollar industry in Malaysia in the next five to ten years.
“Malaysia, which has FTAs with China, Japan, Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand has a huge potential to become a caravan hub for the Asia Pacific region. The RV industry is still in its infancy in Malaysia compared to Australia, where the industry is Estimated to worth USD11bil for a country with 26 million people.
“We also look forward to work with Malaysian companies for dealership opportunities and opening more caravan parks in the country to encourage Malaysians to embrace this new lifestyle and take full advantage of the country’s beautiful landscape,” said Speck.
The emerging RV lifestyle as mobile hotels generally used for short-term outdoor camping and tourism activities for travel enthusiasts is currently trending.
RVs are largely self-sufficient as they are equipped with sleeping, cooking and sanitary facilities which allow for family-bonding, offering a unique travel experience amidst nature.
