Tesla did not commit to opening a factory in Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian Minister of Investment, Trade, and Industry, Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, clarified that Tesla has not committed to opening a factory in Malaysia. Despite discussions with Tesla founder Elon Musk to attract investment, no official announcements or commitments have been made regarding a factory.

This follows a report by Thailand’s The Nation, which suggested the EV maker had canceled plans for factories in Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia, focusing instead on charging stations and existing facilities in China, the U.S., and Germany.

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No Tesla Factory

In Malaysia, several reports state that Tesla pressed the kill switch here, prompting questions on the government’s early demonstration that the EV company was willing to invest in Malaysia.

Last July, the American company announced its strategic expansion into Malaysia with Tesla Malaysia Sdn Bhd, intending to introduce advanced electric vehicles (EVs) and establish a network of charging stations and a headquarters in Cyberjaya. However, the government’s Global EV Battery Lead Initiative, which the EV manufacturer is part of, is also open to other EV manufacturers.

The initiative requires EV makers to install ultra-fast chargers and collaborate with local companies, aiming to enhance the EV charging network and involve local businesses in the ecosystem. Since 2022, Malaysia has attracted RM24.55 billion in EV-related investments from companies like Chery and Samsung SDI Energy.