Get ready for Tesla cars’ official arrival in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR: The report published by Malaysian Electric Vehicles Owners Club last month gave us a strong hint about the soon arrival of Tesla cars in Malaysia. Well, the news has been official now as MITI minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz recently confirmed the same via a social media post titled “Malaysia welcomes Tesla.”

The post reads, “@MITIMalaysia has approved Tesla’s application to import BEVs into Malaysia. Tesla will establish a Head Office, Tesla Experience & Service Centres, and Supercharger network, simultaneously creating skilled & better paying jobs for M’sians.”

Tengku Zafrul further added that the American EV giant is the first applicant under MITI’s new BEV Global Leaders initiative, which aims at increasing BEV demand in the local market. 

While Tesla's official entry into Malaysia is confirmed now, we still have no clue when the brand would set up its shop locally. Also, the scene of which Tesla cars will first land on our shores is hazy at the moment. But, we can take a bet on the brand’s affordable models which are - Model 3 and Model Y. 

These two EVs hit the Thai market late last year and are offered in multiple versions, including Single Motor RWD, Dual Motor Long Range AWD, and Dual Motor Performance AWD. Pricing for the Model Y starts at THB 1,959,000 (RM 246,151) and goes all the way up to THB 2,509,000 (RM 315,258). On the other hand, the Model 3 price ranges between THB 1,759,00 (RM 221,403) to THB 2,309,000 (RM 290,630).

So, would you like to put down money on an EV coming from the house of a pioneer EV-exclusive brand that led the industry-wide shift towards electrification? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. 

Also read: 5 things to know about the upcoming Hyundai Ioniq 6 EV