From Shenzhen to Johor – a Chinese tech company lights the way for global collaboration
On June 5, as the breeze of the South China Sea swept across Johor, Malaysia, Mingshang Technology – a leading Chinese commercial-vehicle intelligent driving company – officially inaugurated its new factory in Johor’s Iskandar Puteri. This was not merely a factory opening; it was a powerful statement about the next chapter of Chinese “smart manufacturing” in the global arena.
One / Across the Seas, Wisdom Meets in Johor
The sound of lion drums echoed through I-Park Industrial Park in Johor Bahru as the state anthem of Johor and Malaysia’s national anthem intertwined. It was a moment that symbolised a new chapter in cross-border cooperation.
On June 5, the grand opening ceremony brought together government officials from China and Malaysia, as well as global supply-chain partners. The atmosphere was both solemn and celebratory. In his opening remarks, Mingshang Technology Chairman Jiang Zhizhou stated:
This sentence captured the essence of the factory’s launch – a story about technology, safety, and a new model of global collaboration.
Two / From “Going Global” to “Becoming Local”: The New Logic of Chinese Manufacturing
Today’s Chinese manufacturing expansion abroad is far from the old “1.0 version” – simply seeking lower costs. Against a backdrop of global supply-chain reshaping, rising geopolitical uncertainties, and rapid technological change, many Chinese tech manufacturers – like Mingshang – are embarking on a new globalization defined by “deep integration” and “value co-creation.”
This is no longer a simple “factory relocation.” It is an “capability export” and “ecosystem co-building.” The necessity of this shift can be seen in three key aspects:
- Supply chain resilience and agility. The fragility of globalization has been exposed in recent years. Building a “decentralized yet strongly collaborative” global production network is essential for managing risk and ensuring stable supply. By locating a manufacturing base in Johor, Mingshang can serve the entire Southeast Asian market with speed and efficiency.
- Value chain upgrading and leadership. Chinese manufacturing is transitioning from “world factory” to “innovation hub.” Going abroad now means exporting high-value-added technology, standards, and solutions – not cheap goods. What Mingshang brings to Malaysia is its decadesdeep expertise in commercial-vehicle intelligent driving systems (the “digital eyes” and “algorithm brain”). This is a classic case of technology empowerment aimed at improving road safety and logistics efficiency across the region.
- Deep localisation in global markets. True globalization is not about aggressive market conquest; it is about humble ecosystem integration. Only by establishing a complete local loop of R&D, production, sales, and service can a company create quality jobs and grow together with the local community. This marks the fundamental shift from “Made in China, for China” to “In the world, integrated into the world system.”
Three / “This Is Just the Beginning”: Mingshang’s Global Ambition and the Johor Fulcrum
Chairman Jiang’s vision for the Johor factory was clear and firm:
He added:
That commitment to localisation is already visible in the factory’s highly localised team – from management to frontline workers – and in the sincere declaration:
This posture earned warm recognition from the Malaysian side. YB Lee Ting Han, Chairman of the Johor State Investment, Trade, Consumer Affairs and Human Resources Committee, noted that the construction and operation of Mingshang’s Johor factory is not only a positive response to Johor’s strategic location, excellent connectivity, skilled workforce, and businessfriendly environment, but also represents a “futureoriented industry.” He specifically highlighted:
Mingshang’s innovations in intelligent driving, road safety, and operational efficiency, he said, will powerfully drive the development of smart mobility in the region.
Four / The Global Journey of “Digital Eyes” and “Algorithm Brain”
The new Mingshang factory in Johor – an investment of tens of millions of ringgit covering over 5,000 square metres – is equipped with advanced cleanroom workshops and production lines. It represents not just an extension of production capacity, but a global alignment of quality and standards.
From the R&D centre in Shenzhen, to the manufacturing headquarters in Huizhou, and now to the production base in Johor, Mingshang Technology has taken 23 years to measure the distance from China to the world. Today, the Johor factory stands as a tangible realisation of the company’s vision:
It is like a newly erected lighthouse – one that will not only illuminate Mingshang’s own global voyage, but also provide a thoughtful navigational chart for other Chinese smartmanufacturing enterprises seeking to position themselves in the new era.
As the ceremony’s theme – “Maju Bersama, Jayakan Bersama!” (Progress Together, Succeed Together!) – suggests, this story on the tropical soil of Southeast Asia is about crossing borders, blending cultures, and creating shared value. A smarter, safer future for global transportation is being turned into reality, step by step, by these “lightkeepers” who dare to cross mountains and seas.