Find out how Tesla and Amazon’s stunning partnership is unleashing a tsunami of innovation in Malaysia, changing the tech landscape forever.
KUALA LUMPUR – Tesla and Amazon have announced significant investments in Malaysia, with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim attributing the decisions to the country’s stable political environment and business-friendly policies.
Tesla, the global leader in battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), has received approval from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) to import BEVs into Malaysia under the BEV Global Leaders initiative. This initiative aims to boost BEV demand in the country and foster the development of an ecosystem supporting BEV adoption.
Tesla is the first applicant for this initiative and plans to establish its operating office, experience centers, and aftersales support facilities in Malaysia. The company also intends to install at least 50 high-speed chargers, with a capacity of more than 180 kWh. At least 30% of these chargers will be available to owners of other EV brands. Tesla’s move is expected to create jobs and develop local talent in the EV industry, collaborating with Malaysian academic organizations and vocational training centers.
The approval for Tesla is a milestone for Malaysians eager to own a Tesla car and a significant step in the EV segment. However, it may pose challenges for approved permit (AP) holders intending to import and sell Tesla vehicles in Malaysia. With Tesla importing and distributing its own vehicles, AP holders may struggle to compete with the brand owner.
Meanwhile, Amazon Web Services (AWS) plans to invest RM25.5 billion ($7.7 billion) in Malaysia after years of evaluation. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim revealed that the investment decision was due to the country’s political stability and clear policy direction. He emphasized that AWS valued Malaysia’s ease of doing business, with swift approvals for projects and transparent negotiations.
AWS aims to develop Malaysia as a “cloud region” for data storage and other cloud-based services, and the investment is expected to create thousands of jobs and boost local small and medium-sized enterprises. AWS’s investment is part of a public-private partnership with the Malaysian government to launch a new infrastructure region in the country. This development will complement AWS’s existing cloud regions in Asia, which include Singapore, Jakarta, Seoul, Tokyo, Osaka, and Hong Kong, with an additional region being developed in Thailand.
International Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz highlighted that Tesla and AWS’s investments would create high-quality job opportunities and revitalize Malaysia’s economy through a cascade effect post-Covid. He emphasized that Malaysia’s strong electrical and electronics ecosystem, as well as its favorable business conditions, played a crucial role in attracting these investments.
Both Tesla and Amazon’s commitment to invest in Malaysia marks a new era for the country’s economy and paves the way for its continued growth and development in the technology sector.
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