Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to meet Tesla CEO Elon Musk next week to discuss further investments in Malaysia
A meeting between Malaysian prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Tesla CEO Elon Musk is expected next week, to discuss further investments in Malaysia, Utusan Malaysia reported.
“Elon Musk has requested to meet next week to discuss with me the possibility of him increasing investment in Malaysia,” Anwar said. The Prime Minister also noted that the country needs more new investments to increase income and reduce debts, the debt now amounts to RM1.5 trillion, Star report.
The Prime Minister said there is an urgent need to increase both domestic and foreign direct investment as these can help create more jobs.
Earlier this week, Tesla Malaysia’s Instagram account went live and the EV brand will officially launch in Malaysia on July 20, 2023.
In March this year, the minister of international trade and industry Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Aziz said that Tesla will establish an office in Malaysia, along with Tesla Experience and Service centers and the Supercharger network.
The minister also said that Tesla chose to invest in Malaysia because the country is 7th largest manufacturer in the field of electrical and electronic (E&E)which will supply key components in the production of electric vehicles.
Tesla is also the first successful candidate of the BEV . Global Leader program by MITI, a program that allows successful registrants to receive franchised APs that would otherwise be possible only for companies with shares of bumiputera.
This scenario does not apply to Tesla, as the EV maker operates on a direct-to-consumer, dealer-free, partner-free business model. To be eligible, cars brought into Malaysia must be battery-powered vehicles, excluding hybrids, and they must be autonomous SAE Level 2 certified.
There are also other requirements, such as the establishment of an office, sales and service center in Malaysia, along with the installation of at least 50 DC fast chargers with a minimum capacity of 180 kW, of which at least At least 30% (15 sets) must be open to public use, i.e. allowing the use of cars of other brands. More requirements remain for applicants to MITI’s BEV Global Leader program; see them More details, here.
