Tesla struggling to keep up with Chinese EV manufacturers, says Anwar
Published on: Friday, August 09, 2024
By: FMT Reporters
Tesla is reported to have abandoned its plans to build factories in Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, although the government says the EV manufacturer never committed to opening a factory here. (AP pic)
PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim claimed that US carmaker Tesla, which was reported to have abandoned plans to build factories in Southeast Asia, has struggled to keep up with Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers.
The company, co-founded by Elon Musk, has also suffered losses, Anwar said.
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He said Tesla had shared this information with the investment, trade, and industry ministry.
“Their operation in Thailand is big, while we are just about to start.
That was what Tesla told us, he told reporters after attending a Leadership Discourse Programme in Kuala Lumpur today.
Last night, investment, trade, and industry minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz said Tesla had never announced any plans to build a factory in Malaysia.
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He said this in response to a report by Thai daily The Nation that Tesla has abandoned its plans to build factories in Southeast Asia, including Malaysia.
The ministry has never announced that Tesla will open a factory in Malaysia. While we have had discussions with Elon Musk about attracting investment, Tesla has never committed to opening a factory here, he said.
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Tesla however is part of Malaysia’s Battery Electric Vehicle Global Leaders initiative, a government policy aimed at boosting the country’s EV ecosystem.
In July last year, Anwar announced large-scale investments from Tesla and one of Musk’s other hi-tech ventures, SpaceX, in Malaysia, which Anwar said would create tens of thousands of high-value jobs.
He also said Tesla would set up its Malaysian headquarters and service centres in Selangor.
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