by AUFA MARDHIAH / pic Bloomberg

THE International Trade & Industry Ministry (MITI) has approved Tesla Inc’s proposal to import battery electric vehicles (BEV) into Malaysia.

As a result of the clearance, Tesla will create a headquarter in Malaysia, open Tesla Experience Centres and Tesla Service Centres, and extend its Supercharger network.

Tesla’s presence in Malaysia is projected to provide skilled and higher-paying job opportunities in the BEV industry, as well as promote local corporate participation in the Tesla ecosystem both domestically and globally.

MITI minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abd Aziz applauded Tesla’s move to establish a presence in Malaysia’s electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem, which indicated Tesla’s belief in Malaysia’s economic foundations and favourable business environment.

He asserted that the ministry and its agencies will continue to make doing business easier, while promoting Malaysia as pro-trade, pro-industry and pro-investment.

“We will also strategically leverage on our established electrical and electronics ecosystem to make Malaysia the preferred investment destination for technology related to electric mobility,” he said in a statement today.

Previously, Tesla’s entry into Malaysia was facilitated by MITI through the launch of the BEV Global Leaders programme, which aims to enhance BEV demand in the local market and further promote the development of the complete ecosystem to support BEV adoption. 

In addition, the initiative aspires to gain investments from prominent global BEV production companies in Malaysia. Tesla is the first candidate for the ministry’s project.