In May, we reported that the Tesla brand was finally coming to Malaysia via official channels, with formal introduction slated for the later half of the year. Since then, there have been rumours that the plan has been dropped or stalled, but we can tell you that it’s happening, with the first of the vehicles set to arrive very soon.
Malaysian Green Technology Corporation (GreenTech Malaysia) has informed paultan.org that it took delivery of the first two Tesla vehicles from Tesla Motors Hong Kong earlier in the week.
On hand to receive the cars, both Model S 85 versions, was GreenTech Malaysia VP Mohamed Azrin Mohamed Ali. The cars – which were ordered in August – are on their way in, and will arrive in the country sometime in the next week or so.
GreenTech Malaysia’s CEO, Ahmad Hadri Haris, also provided updates on the programme involving the cars. The business model, he explains, has changed somewhat – some cars were initially targeted to be provided to ministers for their use, but this idea has since been shelved.
What hasn’t changed is how they will be made available – as we reported earlier, the vehicles can only be obtained from the non-profit organisation, which operates under the ambit of the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water (KeTTHA), through a leasing scheme. They will be offered on a two-year leasing period to government-linked companies (GLC) – the general public won’t be able to get their hands on one.
The thought behind the initiative continues on too, the idea being to allow influential parties the means to better understand the merits of electric vehicles (EVs) by sampling the technology for themselves. The programme also falls in line with GreenTech Malaysia’s push to bring to the forefront its Electric Mobility Blueprint, which aims to get the EV movement going in a big way here.
The leasing programme is sanctioned by Tesla Motors, which is not keen to have its cars sold in direct fashion here – the automaker is agreeable to the running of the initiative on the understanding that the cars are to be used for increasing awareness of EVs and their tech amongst policy makers.
The total number of vehicles has also been revised. Originally, the plan was to bring in 120 units, a mix of the 329 hp, all-wheel drive Model 70D, which has an operating range of 386 km, and Model S 85, the rear-wheel drive version of the type, with the larger proportion of cars being made up of the 70D.
Now, the number has been trimmed to 110, the reduction a result of the poor forex rate brought about by the Ringgit’s performance against the greenback in the past few months.
Some notes about the two S 85s that are coming in. The Midnight Silver and Red multi-coat examples are the last two units to be equipped with the optional executive seats, which revises the rear bench to a twin-occupant-only row, as Tesla doesn’t provide the option for the car any more.
The base 362 hp variant is equipped with an 85 kWh battery, which offers up to 426 km of travel on a single charge. As standard, it comes with a single 10 kW charger, a mobile connector with a 240 volt outlet as well as a SAE J1772 public charging adaptor.
The two cars are specified with Smart Air Suspension, Premium Interior and Lighting, Autopilot Convenience features and even a SubZero Weather Package. The last may sound rather silly given our climate, but there’s a reason for its inclusion – the pack comes together with the executive seats, and cannot be separated.
Meanwhile, Autopilot Convenience brings along with it traffic-aware cruise control, lane keeping with automatic steering, self-parking and automatic high/low beam headlights. Elsewhere, the interior features black leather seats, Piano Black decor accents and white Alcantara headliner.
Safety kit includes eight airbags (head, knee and pelvis airbags in the front, plus two side curtain airbags), parking sensors, blind spot warning, lane departure warning and automatic emergency braking.
We’ll have more info and photos of the Tesla S 85s when they arrive, so stay tuned.
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The way I see it they brought it in because some corrupt people wanted to have Tesla cars here but Tesla does not want to open shop here due to corrupt means so these corrupt people cover their true intentions by saying they want to influence powerful people on EV tech. So in the end only a bunch of corrupt people have their hands on these cars with no foreseeable plans to open an official dealership here.
And if I may add if you want to introduce people to the benefits of EV, go knock on Renaults door. They are already selling EVs here and Mitsubishi or Nissan can help too. All these tech can be obtained very quickly since it’s already here but nooooo they want Tesla coz it’s cool n luxurious.
Corruption? Proof? Only talk kok no use.
IF they market based on corruption assumption, then they should wrench Tesla out from US and balik Isra…oh wai..
It amazed me on why some people always focusing on finding fault of the authorities, no matter how good or noble their actions appear to be. Why the need for you to freely interpret their hidden agenda, if any, and in the process wasting your own energy and creating a bad hormone within your body.
Very true seancorr. Actually, Malaysia is quite bodoh. Tesla is giving out free design and patents to make the best hybrid and electric car. Proton and the Malaysian Government is so stupid, they don’t even know how to use something free. All they have to do is build. No need research and development which is always the bulk cost of any new idea.
Bodoh betul.
And Protn, as usual sucks billions from our LHDN money in disguise telling the government they are researching in developing a good EEV for Proton.
Can Proton stop stealing from our LHDN coffers please?
Secondly, where is that Madani Sahari from MAI? He talks so big about Hybrid and EEV, now government shut down Hybrid incentive, is MAI going to compensate all the Hybrid buyers and Honda and Toyota who invested billions in Malaysia to CKD the Jazz, Hybrid and possibly the Prius?
your comment is as sh!t and as stup1d as you are. nonetheless i agree with seancorr and topkek.
Some corrupt people want Tesla? Bitch please, the hell why would corrupt people want “energy-saving-environmentally friendly-green-tech-for-a-sustainable-future” car like this? 6 Liter V12 please.
Why we Malaysian allow the monkeys to toy with our tax money??
yet again only the menteris can enjoy this car. bullshit la..
oh my TNB bill..
this car is too hansome to become a pure electric car. hehe..
Starting price in U.S. And China from RM180k but comes to Dr M proton land becomes starting price from RM900k
Menteris pay it so be happy lah!
In Malaysia car price is add another zero.
180k will become 1.8 million.
Banks are happy to lend money for car purchases while the govt is happy with the tax collections. Win win for them. Prices will never be lower.
But all the Red Shirt people say it is okey. Janji negara aman dan damai dan boleh main dan kahwin 4
GLC’s should use Proton to show that they support Made in Malaysia and Malaysian brand. Does keep saying the people are not supporting Proton while the government and GLC’s are using foreign brands.
Perth, I’m so proud of my proton preve. Tesla even copy my steering wheel design. Power nak mati proton
the only reason why it wont be available to public cause it will slightly hurt petrona’s pockets.
Plus i read somewhere Tesla’s business model of selling its cars eliminates the middleman and if you referred to a friend, you get discounts. If you referred enough cars to your friends, you get a free model
i call this serious bull…..
Wow, bravo!!!
Lousy excuse by idiots who wants to drive tesla. Seriously do you really need 120 cars to create the awareness. Just bring 5 and rotate them with those idiots who are busy abusing power and wasting people’s money
Model X come to papa.
Want get your greasy hands on a Tesla then say la, “better understand the merits of electric vehicles (EVs) by sampling the technology for themselves” kononnya…
elektrik pun mahal, koya kereta elektrik,malaysia belum bersedia lagi laa. habis income tax aku perabis ke bende x berfaedah. harga berapa ni ?? commission berapa masuk dalam poket ?
Can’t grey importers bring them in? I can’t be the only one who wants one in the AWD variant.
Kalau ada duit beli la jangan la nak komen sampai ke goverment this is about car not politics
This is about car not politics! Kalau tak suka tinggal kat malaysia tinggal la kat tempat lain tukar warganegara terus
stop asking people to tukar warganegara,they have their freedom to speech and expression. Besides, they pay tax also…
Don’t plant hatred here like your comment just did. Malaysians dont need people like you, you’re such a disgrace to the Bangsa Malaysia
Don’t plant hatred here like your comment just did. stop asking people to tukar warganegara,they have their freedom to speech and expression. Besides, they pay tax also…
Malaysians dont need people like you, you’re such a disgrace to the Bangsa Malaysia