TESLA Malaysia’s 30% Multi-Brand Supercharger - Is It Coming Next?

“Our requirements to TESLA includes the installation of at least 50 super chargers within 3 years and at least 30% of these must be usable by other brands as well.” - Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Aziz, Minister of Investment Trade and Industry.

These were the exact words from a tweet shared by Tengku Zafrul back in April 2023. This was one of the conditions set by the Malaysian government as part of the Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) Global Leaders programme, which runs from Jan 1, 2023 to Dec 31, 2025, which led to the official entry of the Tesla brand here. 

Tesla thus far is the ONLY automaker that has been allowed thus far to operate in Malaysia under this initiative. This gave the brand the upper hand by having the ability to contribute to the development of EV charging infrastructure in the country.

Beyond the charging infrastructure, Tesla has not contributed much more to the development of the country's employment, TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training), parts localisation, and CKD (Completely Knocked Down) efforts, unlike other automakers that are already present here.

Back to the topic in hand, the charging network, as per Tengku Zafrul’s statement, 50 superchargers in 3-years with 30% open to multi-brand. Tesla thus far has expedited its charging network roll-out successfully, however all are opened exclusively for Tesla owners.

To date, out of the mandatory 50 Superchargers promised, 34 have been built in various states of operations, which include the latest at Pavilion Bukit Jalil which isn’t operational yet.  Of the initial announcement of 14 locations, not all will be set for superchargers, but these also include destination chargers as well, like the ones in Pavilion Damansara and All Seasons Place, Penang.

Of the 34 superchargers, A'Famosa Freeport Melaka houses 4 units, Pavilion KL has 8 units, Sunway Pyramid has 4 units, Sunway Big Box Johor has 4 units, Pavilion Bukit Jalil has 6 units, and Tesla HQ Cyberjaya houses 8 units.

With these 34 units of superchargers up, mathematically there is only one (1) supercharger left that can be made exclusive for Tesla before the balance 15 (30%) must be made accessible to non-Tesla owners. Would this be the next move by Tesla who has so far been active in its charging network roll-out?

Would non-Tesla owners be able to enjoy access to Tesla Superchargers soon starting from all the new upcoming charger roll-outs? Or Would Tesla focus on its roll-out being exclusive to Tesla owners for the time being and only switch the bare minimum 15 units, or maybe more, to non-Tesla vehicles only after it has successfully penetrates the Malaysian market in terms of vehicle sales?

Mind you the timeline for the 50 superchargers and 30% non-Tesla supercharger roll-out is three years, so technically they have until 2026. The answer to this will only be clear once the next Tesla Supercharger station is set-up after Pavilion Bukit Jalil.