MAA, Budget 2023 Would Help Spur EV Adoption

The 2023 budget has been on the surface a much needed boost to the automotive industry, EV in particular. According to BENAMA, the Malaysia Automotive Association (MAA) president Datuk Aidhah Ahmad has expressed her gratitude on behalf of the association for the extension allowed by the government. 

Although this extension is a far cry from what MAA had championed for, it is still a progress in the right direction. She goes on to say that, “I believe that with the extension, the EV industry will benefit as more people will buy EV’s”  

With the positive outlook in the future EV sales, other downstream industries will also gain through the increase in charging stations, she added. 

In addition, Gemilang International Ltd, a couch solution establishment for commercial vehicles, echoed the government's decision to exempt EV import taxes will December 2024 as it will spur the demand towards EV in Malaysia. Its CEO, Pang Chong Yong said that he hopes more such initiatives would be implemented to promote the development of EV buses in Malaysia mirroring the success in China hence creating a green operating environment for the bus industry. 

He added further that the government’s RM180 million allocation for the bus sector would increase its outreach to passengers in Melaka, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching. At the moment, Gemilang is already collaborating with state governments in Sabah and Sarawak to introduce EV buses in the states. The project is currently on its trial stage.