Local car manufacturers welcomed to bring in more EVs for local assembly

DEPUTY Minister of Investment, Trade, and Industry (MITI) Liew Chin Tong said local car manufacturers are welcomed to bring in more electric vehicle (EV) models for local assembly.

According to Chin Tong, local car manufacturers face challenges in producing EVs at competitive prices due to the high cost of EV technology development compared to internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles that have been developed for so long.

“To help local car manufacturers produce EVs at more competitive prices, the government has offered more attractive tax incentives compared to ICE vehicles.

“Specifically, locally assembled Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV) can enjoy full exemptions from import duties, excise duties, and sales tax until December 31, 2027,” he said.

He also said that the EVs assembled in Malaysia are not subject to the minimum price limit of RM100,000 imposed on imported EVs.

Chin Tong said this in response to Khairil Nizam Khirudin’s (PN-Jerantut) question about efforts to enhance the local car manufacturers’ capacity to produce Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV) that are affordable for the people of Malaysia.