The vehicles were a gift from the Beifang Automotive Education Group, said Zahid, who heads the national council on technical and vocational education.

The Perda automotive centre in Penang and the Sarawak centre of technology excellence will get one vehicle each, with the rest going to Mara technical institutes.

He said more than 100 lecturers have been sent to China for three to six months to undergo training and attend automotive courses.

Zahid said he would hold discussions with Beifang to increase the number of students undergoing training. More than 2,000 Malaysians have been trained by Beifang.

In Ipoh, the Sultan Azlan Shah Polytechnic announced that 21 participants from three polytechnics will spend three months in China in an exchange programme with Hangzhou Polytechnic and Geely Auto Group.

The programme will provide industry attachment training in electric vehicles, and placement opportunities upon completion of the training, according to a statement from the polytechnic.