MALAYSIA’S first listed pure-play bus builder Bus Cap Bhd has entered into a two-year memorandum of strategic collaboration with Starcharge Energy Sdn Bhd to pursue joint opportunities in electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and related technical services in Malaysia.
The collaboration with the indirect subsidiary of Jiangsu, China-based StarCharge Digital Energy Co Ltd covers charging station infrastructure, technical support and know-how alongside potential semi-knocked-down (SKD) assembly, equipment sales, installation, maintenance and localisation.
While commercial fleets are a natural market, the proposed cooperation also presents opportunities to address broader EV charging requirements.
The agreement marks another milestone in Bus Cap’s transformation from a traditional bus-body manufacturer into an integrated mobility and new-energy ecosystem group.
Following its August 2026 MOU with BYD Malaysia Sdn Bhd to explore a localised new-energy commercial vehicle platform, the StarCharge collaboration adds a complementary charging infrastructure and technical services dimension to Bus Cap’s growth roadmap.
Together, these separate initiatives could progressively connect vehicle manufacturing, new-energy technology, EV charging infrastructure and lifecycle services, hence expanding Bus Cap’s role beyond vehicle production.
StarCharge’s wider group operates across more than 70 countries and regions and has delivered up to two million EV chargers globally.
Its capabilities span smart-charging equipment, energy management, battery energy storage and solar photovoltaic (PV) solutions with experience supporting commercial electric-bus operations, including Vietnam’s VinBus fleet.
The collaboration also aligns with Malaysia’s public transport electrification agenda with Prasarana Malaysia Bhd planning to introduce more than 1,100 electric buses between 2025 and 2030 which is ahead of its target to transition to fully electric bus operations by 2037.
For Bus Cap, the cooperation presents an opportunity to combine international charging-technology capabilities with a Malaysian business focused on equipment delivery, installation, technical support and after-sales services.
The group’s ambition is to serve a broader customer base, including charging-point operators, property owners and developers, businesses and commercial fleet operators.
The initiative comes against the backdrop of Budget 2027’s proposed green-technology tax measures, including the extension of relevant investment incentives through Dec 31, 2030.
“Transitioning from a traditional bus-body builder into an integrated mobility group requires step-by-step execution,” commented Bus Cap’s executive director Bernard Ng Chong Yan.
“Over the past few months, we’ve systematically lined up the core pieces of our roadmap – starting with BYD Malaysia on electric buses, strengthening our board with new-energy expertise and now partnering with StarCharge on the supporting infrastructure.”
For transport operators, an electric bus is only one part of the equation. They also need reliable charging systems, technical maintenance and practical ways to manage power costs across their depots, according to Ng.
“By combining vehicle manufacturing with charging installation and fleet-support services, we can participate across a much larger share of our customers’ transportation lifecycle and build recurring service income streams,” he enthused.
Looking ahead, this partnership also points towards our next phase of growth in renewable energy. As commercial fleets electrify, vehicle charging and clean energy generation naturally converge.
Working alongside partners like StarCharge gives us a practical foundation to progressively explore solar integration, battery energy storage, and smart energy management – both for our customers’ fleet.
At the close of today’s (Oct 20) market trading, Bus Cap was down 8 sen or 8.04% to 91.5 sen with 4.18 million shares traded, thus valuing the company at RM351 mil. – Oct 20, 2026
