KUALA LUMPUR: US-based sustainable cooling solutions provider BAC will invest US$150 million to establish a new manufacturing plant in Nilai, Negri Sembilan.

The Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) said the investment is expected to create up to 200 high-skilled jobs by 2035, including engineering and professional roles.

The project was marked by a groundbreaking ceremony yesterday, attended by Mida deputy chief executive officer (Investment Development) Zuaida Abdullah, BAC president Don Fetzer and BAC global vice-president and Asia-Pacific head Ted Lim.

(0:52) It will be developed in two phases on a 7.36ha site.

Phase one, targeted for completion by the end of 2027, will comprise a 30,000- square-metre manufacturing facility and a regional engineering office.

Phase two will establish a research and development centre and introduce advanced manufacturing technologies, with the core manufacturing facility expected to be fully completed by 2030.

Mida said the Nilai facility will house BAC's climate-controlled product development and testing laboratory in the Asia-Pacific region.

"The laboratory will enable local engineering teams to develop and test cooling technologies for tropical climates and high-density applications.

"Combined with Malaysia's skilled workforce, this will strengthen BAC's regional engineering capabilities and support product innovation," it said.

Zuaida said the investment highlights Malaysia's appeal for high-value manufacturing while advancing the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 and the National Energy Transition Roadmap.