BitAuto Malaysia Automotive Forum 2026 Concludes in Kuala Lumpur: Integration & Symbiosis to Drive Malaysia’s New Automotive Growth

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Media OutReach Newswire - 2 July 2026 - June 30, Hosted by BitAuto Tengyi Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., the BitAuto Malaysia Automotive Forum 2026 wrapped up successfully at Sheraton Imperial Kuala Lumpur. Centered on the theme Integration & Symbiosis: Driving Malaysia's New Automotive Growth, the event brought together local Malaysian automakers, Chinese EV brands expanding overseas, international OEMs, dealer groups, local content creators, and industry specialists. It served as a high-efficiency exchange platform to facilitate cross-industry dialogue between China and Malaysia's automotive ecosystems, exploring new digitally-powered growth trajectories for the domestic auto market.

BitAuto Malaysia Automotive Forum 2026 Concludes in Kuala Lumpur: Integration & Symbiosis to Drive Malaysia’s New Automotive Growth

Key distinguished attendees included:
Mike Cui, Managing Director of GWM Malaysia

Stan Li Hao, Managing Director for Commercial Operations of GWM Malaysia

Michael Chew, Senior Director of Product Strategy & Corporate Sales CEO Office of Chery Corporate Malaysia

Lampard Peng Yile, Head of User Development and User Operations, Proton New Energy (Pro-Net) Sdn Bhd

Edward Wong, Malaysia Self-Operated Channel Sales Manager of SGMW

Oscar Wang, Co-Founder of JoyStar Dealer Group

Ken Lio Yu Chng, Head of Product Planning of TQ Wuling Manufacturing

Lim Jit Hau, Manager of User Development and User Operations, Proton New Energy (Pro-Net) Sdn Bhd

Gao Feng, Co-Founder of Beritarian

Dato' Seri Paduka Prof. Dr. Steven Leow, Principal of Official TANK Owners Club Malaysia & President of IBC International Chamber of Commerce

Representatives from Zeekr, Leapmotor, BMW, Toyota and 212 Motors also graced the forum.

Anchoring Malaysia: Deep Local Market Penetration via Digital Capabilities to Boost Industrial Growth
Kicking off the forum, Li Wei, Vice President of Tengyi Technology & Director of BitAuto Malaysia, delivered a keynote address outlining BitAuto's strategic rationale for establishing operations in Malaysia.

BitAuto Malaysia Automotive Forum 2026 Concludes in Kuala Lumpur: Integration & Symbiosis to Drive Malaysia’s New Automotive Growth

Li Wei noted that BitAuto has built a 26-year footprint in China's automotive internet space, with four core business pillars: Yiche vertical auto media, Tencent Advertising Mobility Division, new media operations and AI technology. Malaysia was selected as the brand's flagship overseas hub based on four core market observations: steady overall automotive market scale, accelerating electrification, massive untapped EV penetration potential, and sustained policy support for the industry. Malaysia's automotive sector is currently at an inflection point of structural expansion, calling for robust digital infrastructure to capture emerging market demand.

Li Wei introduced Bitauto.my, BitAuto Malaysia's one-stop integrated automotive Awareness – Content Nurturing – Conversion ecosystem platform, engineered to form a full-funnel user journey spanning Awareness – Content Nurturing – Conversion. Built around three core value propositions—simplifying car selection, enabling transparent vehicle transactions, and humanising automotive brands—the platform catalogues over 85 marques, 550 vehicle models and more than 1,300 variants. It equips users with high-definition vehicle galleries, 360° VR car viewing and multi-model comparison tools, while aggregating real-time pricing and verified promotional data from authorised dealers to eliminate information asymmetry in the market.

On the content front, BitAuto Malaysia operates a trilingual content matrix covering Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin and English. Leveraging Yiche's professional vehicle review framework and full-scenario content marketing strategies, the platform has built industry-wide influence. It also collaborates with over 30 local creators across automotive, tech, lifestyle and travel verticals to deliver hyper-localised messaging for precise audience targeting. For sales conversion, BitAuto has rolled out a membership programme for dealers and livestream customer acquisition solutions, integrating real-time WhatsApp lead distribution, merchant backend management and performance advertising workflows.

BitAuto Malaysia Automotive Forum 2026 Concludes in Kuala Lumpur: Integration & Symbiosis to Drive Malaysia’s New Automotive Growth

"BitAuto In Malaysia, For Malaysia," Li Wei emphasised. The brand aims to become Malaysia's most trusted digital growth partner for the automotive industry, delivering robust tools and authentic content to foster long-term trust between automotive brands and consumers.

Panel Discussion 1: Localised Collaboration to Overcome Industry Challenges
Moderated by Chen Hao, Vice President of Tengyi Technology & Editor-in-Chief of Autoreport, the first panel featured Michael Chew of Chery Malaysia, Edward Wong of SGMW, Oscar Wang of JoyStar Dealer Group and Dato' Seri Paduka Prof. Dr. Steven Leow of Malaysia Tank Owners Club. The session revolved around the topic "Driven by Consumer Demand: Long-Term xEV Growth with Breakthrough Strategies Rooted in Localization, Charging Infrastructure and Omnichannel Content Marketing".

BitAuto Malaysia Automotive Forum 2026 Concludes in Kuala Lumpur: Integration & Symbiosis to Drive Malaysia’s New Automotive Growth

Panel participants converged on three core consensus points:

Chinese brands expanding into Malaysia must prioritise local integration over market conquest.
Michael Chew cited Chery's global brand ethos "In Somewhere, For Somewhere", stressing that sustainable market presence requires building a complete local ecosystem covering manufacturing, supply chains, and indigenous talent pipelines, rather than merely importing finished vehicles for resale. From a dealer perspective, Oscar Wang explained Malaysia functions as a mature replacement market, where trade-in buyers prioritise differentiated driving experiences. Chinese OEMs must deliver superior specifications and competitive pricing to capture market share.

Fluctuating fuel subsidy policies act as a catalyst for new energy vehicle uptake.
Oscar Wang pointed out repeated revisions to Malaysia's petrol subsidy scheme have stoked consumer concerns over rising fossil fuel costs, driving surging demand for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). At certain Chery retail outlets, PHEV models account for over 99% of total sales. Michael Chew added that real-world long-distance road tests — such as a 1,400-kilometre Beijing-Wuhan journey completed on a single fuel tank — are critical to shifting consumer perceptions and building confidence in PHEV technology.

Cross-industry collaboration is essential for charging infrastructure development; community-driven word-of-mouth underpins brand trust.
Michael Chew framed charging network expansion as a classic "chicken-and-egg" dilemma requiring joint efforts from automakers, dealers and government authorities. Edward Wong shared that Wuling leverages its partnership with Tan Chong Group to advance localised infrastructure deployment. From a vehicle owner community lens, Dato' Seri Paduka Dr. Lau Yun Lian highlighted that genuine long-term user testimonials are the most powerful antidote to consumer scepticism surrounding Chinese automotive brands.

Panel Discussion 2: Boundless Content & Symbiotic Community Ecosystems
Hosted by Wang Honghao, Editor-in-Chief of Carstyling, the second panel brought together Yi Ran, Founder of Yiran Moment; Automotive Content Creator Whelan Choy Wen Jun; Carol Foo, Automotive Creator & Founder of CE Auto Media; Song Yilun, Lifestyle Creator & Founder of Enjoy Nanyang; and Chang Fengchen, Chief Editor of BitAuto Malaysia. The discussion theme was "Boundless Content · Symbiotic Communities: How Automotive Content Bridges Consumer Preferences to Brand Loyalty and Forges Deep Brand-User Connections"

BitAuto Malaysia Automotive Forum 2026 Concludes in Kuala Lumpur: Integration & Symbiosis to Drive Malaysia’s New Automotive Growth

The five panellists aligned on a unified core narrative:

Consumer content preferences have shifted from data-driven evaluation to emotional resonance.
Yi Ran noted Chinese audiences prioritise data-heavy, logic-led automotive content, while Southeast Asian users seek emotional connection through media. Carol Foo highlighted younger demographics prioritise creator authenticity over technical specs alone, and Song Yilun added short-video viewers favour lighthearted, relatable storytelling over jargon-laden technical breakdowns.

Authenticity is the shortest pathway to building consumer trust.
Whelan Choy Wen Jun argued short-term test drives fail to cultivate lasting credibility; content creators purchasing vehicles for long-term personal use deliver far more persuasive advocacy. Yi Ran commented that China's automotive content industry suffers from a widespread authenticity deficit — while production quality, data depth and scientific rigour have improved, genuine user-driven storytelling remains scarce. Carol Foo elaborated that brand trust accumulates through multiple touchpoints, spanning creator recommendations to peer owner experiences.

Short and long-form video serve distinct roles; offline community gatherings remain irreplaceable.
Whelan Choy Wen Jun proposed a clear division of labour: short-form videos spark initial audience interest, while long-form deep dives drive meaningful brand engagement. Carol Foo underscored Malaysia's vibrant offline car meet culture, noting in-person brand events deliver superior engagement compared to digital advertising alone. Chang Fengchen validated this with platform data, showing prospective car buyers exhibit higher save and follow rates for long-form automotive content.

All panellists agreed that compelling automotive content does not merely persuade audiences—it resonates with them. Consumers are not disposable traffic metrics, but long-term relationships worthy of sustained nurturing.

BitAuto Malaysia Automotive Forum 2026 Concludes in Kuala Lumpur: Integration & Symbiosis to Drive Malaysia’s New Automotive Growth

This forum marked BitAuto Malaysia's first official large-scale industry debut. Upholding the core philosophy "In Malaysia, For Malaysia", BitAuto Malaysia will continue to iterate on Bitauto.my's platform functionality, expand its diversified content ecosystem and strengthen sales conversion capabilities. It aims to deliver a full-stack digital operation solution covering brand exposure, user cultivation and sales conversion for Malaysia's automotive industry, cementing its position as a reliable long-term digital growth partner for automakers and dealers nationwide.
Hashtag: #BitAutoMalaysia

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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Key Highlights:

• Jollibee Group brands Jollibee, Mang Inasal, and Chowking ranked as the Philippines' top three most valuable restaurant brands in the Brand Finance Philippines 50 2026 report.
• The Philippine restaurant sector reached approximately USD4.1 billion in brand value, growing 29% year-on-year, with Jollibee accounting for around 80% of total sector value.
• Jollibee ranked No. 2 in brand value across all Philippine brands for the third consecutive year, with brand value rising by approximately 32% to USD3.3 billion, supported by strong brand strength and global recognition as the fifth-strongest restaurant brand worldwide.
• Mang Inasal rose significantly in brand strength, emerging as No. 2 across Philippine restaurant and non-restaurant brands, with brand value increasing 28% to USD482 million, and earning recognition among Brand Finance's "Brands to Watch" for 2026.
• Jollibee Foods Corporation's broader portfolio includes Tim Ho Wan, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, and Compose Coffee, reflecting a multi-brand, multi-market platform that extends beyond its Philippine restaurant brands.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - Media OutReach Newswire - 2 July 2026 - Jollibee Group brands Jollibee, Mang Inasal, and Chowking were recognized in the Brand Finance Philippines 50 2026 report as the country's top three most valuable restaurant brands, with Jollibee leading the restaurant sector and accounting for around 80% of total restaurant brand value.

Jollibee Group brands Jollibee, Mang Inasal, and Chowking, were the top 3 restaurant brands in the Brand Finance Philippines 50 2026 ranking, reflecting the strength and value of the Group's portfolio of homegrown restaurant brands.

The report places the three brands within the broader context of the Philippines' top-performing corporate brands, where brand value and brand strength are increasingly tied to consumer demand, pricing strength, resilience, and long-term business value.

According to Brand Finance, the Philippine restaurant sector reached approximately USD4.1 billion in brand value, growing 29% year-on-year, with Jollibee accounting for around 80% of total restaurant brand value.

Jollibee Ranks No. 2 Most Valuable Philippine Brand for Third Consecutive Year; Mang Inasal Rises to No. 2 Strongest Brand Overall

The report ranked Jollibee No. 2 in brand value across Philippine restaurant and non-restaurant brands for the third consecutive year. The brand also received a Brand Strength Index score of 87.9 out of 100, placing it as the fifth-strongest restaurant brand worldwide in the Brand Finance Restaurants 25 2026 report, where it was cited as the only Philippine and Southeast Asian brand included in the global ranking.

Brand Finance attributed Jollibee's performance to stronger brand strength, sustained customer demand, and strong brand appeal across core markets. The report also linked the brand's momentum to same-store sales growth, rising transaction volumes, revenue growth, record systemwide sales, continued U.S. expansion, and successful expansion in Vietnam, marked by the opening of its 200th store in the market.

Mang Inasal delivered one of the report's most notable improvements, rising from seventh to second in brand strength across Philippine restaurant and non-restaurant brands. Its Brand Strength Index advanced 7.4 points to 95.2 out of 100, from 87.8 in 2025, lifting its brand strength rating from AAA to AAA+. Its brand value grew 28% to USD482 million, supporting its inclusion among Brand Finance's "Brands to Watch" for 2026.

Brand Finance credited Mang Inasal's performance to its position within Jollibee Foods Corporation, including scale, operational support, and broad market visibility.

Chowking also advanced in the Brand Finance Philippines 50 2026 report, rising to No. 31 among the country's most valuable brands.

Beyond these Philippine brand rankings, Jollibee Foods Corporation operates a broader global portfolio of 20 brands with more than 10,400 stores and cafés across 33 countries, including Tim Ho Wan, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Compose Coffee, Smashburger, Highlands Coffee, Milksha, and other brands across fast food, coffee and tea, bakery, casual dining, and beverage technology.

Ernesto Tanmantiong, Chief Executive Officer of Jollibee Foods Corporation, said: "These recognitions reflect the enduring strength of our brands and the trust we have earned from consumers across generations. Strong brands are strategic assets: they deepen customer loyalty, support sustainable growth, and enhance the resilience of our business, particularly in a dynamic operating environment.

"These rankings are more than brand accolades; they offer a view into the intrinsic value we are building every day. Notably, Jollibee's brand value of USD3.3 billion alone represents a substantial level relative to our current market capitalization, highlighting a meaningful opportunity to convert brand strength into sustained, long-term value for our shareholders."

Hashtag: #JollibeeGroup

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Jollibee Group

Jollibee Foods Corporation (PSE: JFC) (the "Company") is one of the world's fastest-growing restaurant companies, driven by its purpose of spreading joy through superior taste. It manages and operates a portfolio that includes 20 brands (the "Jollibee Group") with over 10,400 stores and cafés across 33 countries.

The Jollibee Group's portfolio includes nine (9) wholly-owned brands (Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, Red Ribbon, Mang Inasal, Yonghe King, Hong Zhuang Yuan, Smashburger and Tim Ho Wan), five (5) franchised brands (Burger King, Panda Express, Yoshinoya, Common Man Coffee Roasters, and Tiong Bahru Bakery in the Philippines), and ownership stakes in other key brands like The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (80%), Compose Coffee (70%), Shabu All Day (70%), SuperFoods Group that operates Highlands Coffee (60%), and bubble tea brand Milksha (51%). The Company also has membership interests in Tortazo, LLC, along with Chef Rick Bayless, for Tortazo in the U.S., and in Botrista, a leader in beverage technology.

The Jollibee Group's global sustainability agenda, Joy for Tomorrow, underscores its commitment to sustainable business practices across food safety, employee welfare, community support, good governance, and environmental responsibility, among others. These focus areas are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

The Company has been recognized as the Philippines' Most Admired Company by the Asian Wall Street Journal, named one of Asia's Fab 50 Companies, and listed among Forbes' World's Best Employers and Top Female-Friendly Companies. The Company is also a five-time Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award recipient and featured in TIME's World's Best Companies and Fortune's Southeast Asia 500 List.

** This press release is distributed by Media OutReach Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **