Malaysia Aims to Become an Electric Vehicle Hub: Plans to Attract EV Giants Like Tesla
Malaysia, having successfully lured Tesla to establish its regional headquarters last year, is setting its sights on becoming a hub for Electric Vehicle (EV) assembly plants. Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, the Minister of Investment, Trade, and Industry, disclosed the nation’s ambition to attract industry giants like Tesla to build manufacturing facilities within its borders.
Malaysia Aims to Become an Electric Vehicle Hub
Currently, Malaysia plays a significant role in the EV market by supplying components to many manufacturers, amounting to billions in trade. To strengthen its position, Malaysia is strategically focusing on the semiconductor industry to tap into the flourishing market.
In a recent interview with CNBC, Minister Tengku Zafrul highlighted the effort to realign the supply chain and enhance the security and resiliency of the supply chain. He expressed Malaysia’s invitation to numerous EV manufacturers, aiming for them to establish and expand their presence in the country.
The minister noted that Tesla is already a major provider of charging stations in Malaysia, and some of the country’s largest companies are also suppliers to Tesla. Malaysia is witnessing exponential growth in sales, with over 100,000 registered electrified vehicles, and the government anticipates this positive momentum to continue.
Minister Tengku Zafrul emphasized that EVs will be a catalyst for the growth of Malaysia’s manufacturing industry exports. He highlighted the critical role of electrical and electronics products (E&E) in the supply chain, citing the need for components like semiconductor composites and chips.
To boost its semiconductor industry, Malaysia has established the National Semiconductor Strategic Task Force (NSSTF) under the National Investment Council (MPN). This task force, chaired by Minister Tengku Zafrul, aims to elevate Malaysia’s position in the chips industry and attract strategic investments.
The semiconductor sector, contributing 45.4% to Malaysia’s manufacturing industry export revenue, holds significant importance. Minister Tengku Zafrul stressed the focus on developing the semiconductor ecosystem and ensuring a robust “talent supply chain” with an annual requirement of 50,000 electrical and electronics engineers.
Despite challenges, Malaysia’s established foundation in the semiconductor industry over the past 50 years positions it favorably to move up the value chain. As the nation actively pursues its goal of becoming an EV hub, the semiconductor sector is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping Malaysia’s economic landscape.
Pokdepinion: I mean, we managed to get Tesla so at this point, for as long as nothing massively bad happens, I’m about pretty sure we’ll see even more in Malaysia sooner rather than later. This is especially the case for those with more affordable offerings as we need a bigger variety to cater to a wider audience if we want to see it being adopted more. Otherwise, we’ll just see more hybrids instead.
