Green mobility initiatives and job opportunities follow
Tesla Sdn. Bhd. (Tesla), a renowned American multinational electric automotive manufacturer, has revealed its strategic expansion plan into the Malaysian market in response to the Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) Global Leaders initiative introduced by the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI).
The company has chosen Cyberjaya, Selangor, as the location for its head office and service center, which will serve as the central hub for all corporate operations, marketing, training, customer support activities, and vehicle services. The facility will be equipped with state-of-the-art diagnostic tools and manned by trained Tesla technicians to provide top-notch after-sales services to customers.
Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Aziz, the Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), expressed his pleasure at Tesla’s decision to expand into Malaysia. He stated that Tesla’s commitment to sustainable mobility is aligned with Malaysia’s vision for a greener future and fits well with the New Industrial Master Plan 2030’s push for net zero. MITI aims to attract companies like Tesla to enhance domestic suppliers’ position in global value chains, open up new ‘greener’ economic opportunities, and create higher-paying jobs for Malaysians. Tesla’s presence is expected to boost Malaysia’s pro-business and pro-investment credentials on the global stage, attracting more multinational investors who share the nation’s vision of sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
The Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) has already approved 58 projects worth RM26.2 billion in the EV sector and its related ecosystems between 2018 and March 2023. These investments cover various areas such as EV assembly, manufacturing of EV parts and components, and charging infrastructure.
MIDA Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Wira Arham Abdul Rahman, commended Tesla’s investment in Malaysia and emphasised that electric mobility will play a significant role in the country’s sustainable development journey.
Isabel Fan, Tesla’s Regional Director, expressed excitement and optimism about the expansion into Malaysia. She stated that Tesla is committed to accelerating the world’s transition to sustainable energy and has unveiled a comprehensive development plan for an experience center, service and support, and charging infrastructure in Malaysia.
Tesla’s steadfast commitment to innovation, sustainability, and customer satisfaction positions the company to revolutionise the Malaysian automotive market and contribute significantly to the nation’s environmental goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050. This goal is in line with Malaysia’s pledge to reduce carbon emissions under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Moreover, Malaysia aims to achieve at least 15% of xEVs out of the total industry volume (TIV) by 2030 under the Low Carbon Mobility Blueprint (LCMB) 2021-2030 and 38% of xEV by 2040 under the National Energy Policy (NEP) 2022-2040, with plans to build 10,000 charging facilities by 2025.
In June, ahead of its setup, Tesla Malaysia conducted a walk-in recruitment day, which attracted thousands of job seekers interested in various positions, including sales advisors, enterprise sales advisors, delivery advisors, customer support specialists, and service advisors.
MITI highlighted that Tesla’s presence in Malaysia is expected to create skilled and well-paying job opportunities in the BEV segment and increase local companies’ participation in the Tesla ecosystem, both domestically and globally. This move aligns with Malaysia’s vision of fostering a greener future and sustainable economic growth.
