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January 17,2026,Kuala Lumpur-BMW Group Malaysia has established collaboration with Universiti Malaya (UM), marking the start of a strategic partnership to research and develop second-life applications for electric vehicle (EV) batteries, with a focus on rural and community electrification initiatives.
Benjamin Nagel-MD of BMW Group Malaysia,has signed a MOU with Professor Dr Yvonne Lim Ai Lian – Associate Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International),witnessed by Markus Lang – Finance Director, BMW Group Malaysia and Associate Professor Chemist, Dr Noraini Ahmad – Director of UM Community Engagement Centre (UMCares).Also presence were Sashi Ambihaipahan – Director of Corporate Communications & Sustainability, BMW Group Malaysia, Dr Archina Buthiyappan – representing UM Sustainable Development Centre (UMSDC), Niko Koch – Director of Customer Support, BMW Group Malaysia,Dr Tan Chia Kwang, representing UM Power Energy Dedicated Advanced Centre
(UMPEDAC).
Under the collaboration, BMW Group Malaysia will supply used EV batteries to Universiti Malaya’s UM Power Energy Dedicated Advanced Centre (UMPEDAC) for research into innovative energy storage solutions. These solutions will be applied through community engagement and sustainable development projects led by the UM Community Engagement Centre (UMCares) and the UM Sustainable Development Centre (UMSDC).
The partnership underscores BMW Group Malaysia’s commitment to Circularity and Sustainable Mobility by extending the lifecycle of EV batteries beyond their automotive use. Research efforts will explore a range of second-life applications, including stationary energy storage systems and on-campus sustainable energy solutions.
In addition to technical research and development, the collaboration will include knowledge sharing and capacity building between BMW Group Malaysia’s technical experts and UM’s faculty and students, as well as opportunities for joint public engagement initiatives to raise awareness of sustainable energy practices.
Benjamin Nagel-MD of BMW Group Malaysia, said,“This partnership with Universiti Malaya represents our commitment to ensuring that our electric vehicle batteries continue to create value even after their automotive lifecycle. By collaborating with one of Malaysia’s leading research institutions, we are advancing the BMW Group’s Circularity agenda locally while developing solutions that align with Malaysia’s broader sustainability objectives. It is about creating meaningful solutions that benefit communities while reducing environmental impact.”
Professor Dato’ Seri Ir. Dr. Noor Azuan Abu Osman, VC of Universiti Malaya, added, “We are excited to partner with BMW Group Malaysia on this groundbreaking initiative. Universiti Malaya has been at the forefront of energy storage research, and this collaboration allows us to work with premium-quality battery systems to develop practical solutions for real-world energy challenges. Second-life batteries hold tremendous potential for renewable energy integration and demonstrate the viability of circular economy principles in action.”
By demonstrating the viability of second-life battery applications, the partnership aims to support the development of a circular economy ecosystem within Malaysia’s growing electric vehicle sector. It also marks another milestone in BMW Group Malaysia’s journey towards sustainable mobility, highlighting how collaboration between industry and academia can deliver lasting environmental and social value.
The initiative builds on BMW Group Malaysia’s ongoing sustainability efforts under its RE:THINK and RE:GENERATE programmes, which focus on reducing waste, maximising resource efficiency, and embedding circularity across the company’s value chain through reducing, reusing, and recycling in partnership with local stakeholders.
