Zafrul Sheds Light On Tesla Factory Rumors & Global BEV Initiative
Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, the Minister of Investment, Trade, and Industry (MITI), has released a statement addressing the highly publicised news about Tesla’s commitment to Malaysia and the speculated shortfall in Southeast Asia.
This comes after a report by Thai newspaper The Nation which has been widely published here claimed that Tesla had withdrawn any factory commitments in Southeast Asia.
In his statement, Tengku Zafrul urged Malaysian media to verify claims and information directly with Tesla, rather than rehashing information from unnamed sources. However, he may not be aware that Tesla has globally disbanded its PR department, making it nearly impossible to obtain details or official statements from Tesla, including in Malaysia.
Tengku Zafrul further clarified that MITI has never announced that Tesla would be opening a factory in Malaysia. While discussions have indeed taken place between Malaysian officials and Elon Musk as part of efforts to attract investment, Tesla has not committed to building a factory in the country.
Was Malaysia’s Investment in Tesla a Waste of Time?
Absolutely not, according to Tengku Zafrul. He explained that a broader strategy is at play. The Malaysian government introduced the Global Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) Leadership Initiative to strengthen the country’s EV ecosystem. This initiative is open to any EV manufacturer, not just Tesla. Some key requirements for participation include:
- Setting up a Head Office, Experience Centre and Service Centre.
- Employing at least 80% local workforce.
- Collaborating with at least 10 local higher education institutions or Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
- Installing at least 50 ultra-fast chargers with a capacity exceeding 180 kWh.
- Ensuring at least 30% of these chargers are accessible to the public, meaning they can be used by vehicles from other manufacturers.
- Collaborating with at least 10 local companies to develop and deploy the EV charging ecosystem (e.g., local contractors for charger installations and sourcing equipment like transformers and cables).
Furthermore, the government is encouraging more industry players to take up this initiative, similar to Tesla, to benefit from the advantages provided by the Global BEV initiative.
What’s the Goal of This Initiative?
According to Tengku Zafrul, the Global BEV initiative aims to expand the charging network for local EV owners while boosting the participation of local companies in the EV charging space. He noted that countries like China, Hong Kong, and Norway have accelerated their transition to electric vehicles through similar programs, benefiting many local SMEs involved in the EV ecosystem.
In Malaysia, the government has set a goal of achieving 10,000 EV chargers by the end of 2025. However, this goal has encountered challenges, including bureaucratic hurdles, which have slowed the growth of EV chargers in 2024 compared to 2023.
Setting the Record Straight
Tengku Zafrul reiterated that the Malaysian government, through MITI or any of its agencies, has never announced that Tesla will be opening a factory in Malaysia.
Despite this, MITI remains committed to attracting high-quality investments to Malaysia. The strategy to attract investments in the automotive industry is not limited to Tesla alone.
From 2022 to the first quarter of 2024, Malaysia secured investments totaling RM24.55 billion in EV-related manufacturing activities from companies such as Chery, Gemilang Coachwork, Samsung SDI Energy, NexV Manufacturing, and EVE Energy.
MITI will continue its efforts to attract high-quality investments, create more job opportunities for Malaysians, and ensure that the country remains competitive on the global stage.
Written By
KS
More then half his life spend being obsessed with all thing go-fast, performance and automotive only to find out he's actually Captain Slow behind the wheels...oh well! https://www.linkedin.com/in/kumeran-sagathevan/
JPJ Running Numbers
KUALA LUMPUR
VPK1613
SELANGOR
BSG2532
JOHOR
JYD1742
PULAU PINANG
PRS3664
PERAK
ANX6457
PAHANG
CFC5714
KEDAH
KGB3694
NEGERI SEMBILAN
NEG4505
KOTA KINABALU
SJL6641
KUCHING
QAB6721L
Last updated 15 Jul, 2025
Fuel Price
Petrol
RON 95
RM 2.05
RON 97
RM 3.18
RON 100
RM 5.00
VPR
RM 6.23
Diesel
EURO 5 B10
RM 2.88
+0.03
EURO 5 B7
RM 3.08
+0.03
Last updated 10 Jul, 2025
Related News
Volkswagen Has Sold More EVs Than Tesla in Europe
Volkswagen has shifted more EVs than Tesla in Europe in the first half of 2025, with the group's global EV sales rising by 47%.
10-07-2025
Tesla Robotaxi Debuts In Austin – RM18 Rides With “Safety Driver”
Tesla's invite-only Robotaxi service is now live in Austin, using 2025 Model Ys with a flat fare of $4.20 (approx. RM18).
25-06-2025
New Tesla V4 Supercharging Station Opens in i-City Shah Alam
Tesla Malaysia’s newest V4 Supercharging station is now open at i-City Finance Avenue, Shah Alam.
10-06-2025
Euro NCAP Reveals 2025’s Best and Worst Assisted Driving Systems
New Euro NCAP 2025 assessment proves assisted driving tech is now prevalent, but only few get it right.
06-06-2025
Tesla's Europe Sales Crashing Despite New Model Y
Tesla's European sales are still falling, with key markets down about 50% YOY in early Q2 2025.
05-05-2025
Tesla Halts New Orders For US-Made Model X And Model S In China
Tesla has halted new Model S and Model X orders in China, likely due to high tariffs on US-made cars.
15-04-2025
Report: RHD Tesla Cybertruck Mulled for Australia – Malaysia Included?
Tesla has reportedly confirmed that the right-hand drive version of the Cybertruck is being considered for Australia.
12-03-2025
Tesla Garners Controversial Presidential Nod From Trump
Trump turned the White House lawn into a Tesla showroom, praising Musk’s cars and promising to buy one himself.
12-03-2025
Latest News
Report: China Seeks To Ban Single-Pedal Drive Mode In EVs By 2027
China reportedly seeking to ban divisive single-pedal drive mode in EVs by 2027.
14-07-2025
Xpeng Surpasses 800,000-Unit Delivery Milestone
After more than six years, China’s Xpeng has finally reached the 800,000-unit delivery milestone.
14-07-2025
Meta Bright, ChargeSini JV to Fast-Track EV Charger Rollout
Meta Bright teams up with ChargeSini to scale EV charging infrastructure nationwide.
12-07-2025
Geely Xingyuan Crowned as China’s Best-Selling Car in 1H 2025
Proton e.MAS 5’s twin, the Geely Xingyuan EV, has been crowned as China’s best-selling car in the first half of 2025.
11-07-2025
MG IM5 & IM6 EV Duo Debuts in the UK – Malaysia Next?
Both the MG IM5 and IM6 EVs had just made their European debut in the UK. Is Malaysia next on the list?
11-07-2025
Rimac Nevera R Shatters 0-400-0 KM/H Record, Sets 24 New Records In Total
Highly charged Rimac Nevera R EV hypercar shatters 0-400-0 KM/H record, sets 24 records in total too.
11-07-2025
Hyundai Ioniq 6 N Unveiled as the Brand’s Most Potent EV Yet
The all-new Ioniq 6 N breaks cover as a performance EV saloon that is good enough to be Hyundai’s fastest creation yet.
11-07-2025
Volkswagen Has Sold More EVs Than Tesla in Europe
Volkswagen has shifted more EVs than Tesla in Europe in the first half of 2025, with the group's global EV sales rising by 47%.
10-07-2025
Show More
trending_flat