Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he discussed Telsa Inc’s investments in the South-East Asian country during a virtual meeting with chief executive officer Elon Musk.
“I welcome the company’s interest and investment decisions in Malaysia as well as Elon Musk’s willingness to come to Malaysia,” Anwar said in a statement Friday issued after the call that lasted about 25 minutes.
Anwar said he also discussed Starlink and its ability to widen Internet coverage in rural areas.
Tesla is set to launch its lineup in Malaysia on July 20. The pre-booking for its Model Y range began this week, with a starting price of RM199,000 (US$44,000), according to its website. Deliveries will start next year.
Malaysia is focusing on the development of an EV ecosytem and has offered tax breaks to boost adoption, as part of its mission to meet net zero emission goals by 2050. The country has a target of having EVs – including hybrids – account for 15% of the total industry volume by 2030.
Tesla in March said it will build a network of supercharges across the country. BYD Co, China’s best-selling car brand, in December said it will sell its EVs in Malaysia in an RM500mil tie-up with Sime Darby Motors Sdn Bhd. – Bloomberg