Gov’t to allow duty-exempt import of 100 Tesla Model S

tesla najib visit 2

More on the Tesla initiative by Malaysian Green Technology Corporation (GreenTech Malaysia) – the government has given the green light to allow the duty-free importation of 100 units of Tesla Model S, the New Straits Times reports.

The announcement was made by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak during a visit to Tesla Motor’s headquarters in Palo Alto, California, where he toured the facility for about an hour and was briefed by the automaker’s vice-president, Diarmuid O’ Connell. He also test drove the Model X.

The PM said the duty exemption for the EVs was part of the government’s efforts to promote electric vehicles (EV) and cut carbon emissions. “These cars have zero-emission, and we want to create a more sustainable environment, so we would like to promote such cars in Malaysia,” he told reporters.

“Malaysia has decided to promote electric vehicles under a special programme where the government will allow imports of 100 units of Model S, premium electric sedans,” he added.

tesla najib visit 1

Najib said that the 100 units will be duty-exempted. Government officials who were present at the event said Tesla may restrict the purchase to government-linked companies, which continues to fall in line with that mentioned from the start of the initiative last year.

In May 2015, GreenTech revealed its plans for the programme, which originally set out to bring in 120 Model S units (later revised to 110 units), consisting of a mix of all-wheel drive 70D and rear-wheel drive 85 variants.

The Teslas will be available only through a leasing scheme, and will be offered on a two-year leasing period to government-linked companies (GLC) for use as official cars, so the general public won’t be able to get their hands on one.

The intent of all this is to allow influential parties the means to better understand the merits of EVs by sampling the technology for themselves, and is meant to aid GreenTech Malaysia’s push to expand the EV scope in the country through its Electric Mobility Blueprint.

We had reported that the leasing programme is sanctioned by Tesla, which is not keen to have its cars sold in direct fashion in Malaysia – 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 the tech with policy makers.

GreenTech Malaysia already has two Model S 85 units registered and running in the country – we’ve covered them in great detail through an initial preview and subsequently, through an exclusive road test.

A quick recap on the S 85’s specs – 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.

Last month, GreenTech took one of its two S 85s on a road trip up north to Kedah – the journey, from its office in Bangi up to Kulim, was made on a single charge, as was the return leg. For a more complete view of the Tesla S 85, read our first drive report.

GALLERY: Tesla Model S 85

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Anthony Lim

Anthony Lim believes that nothing is better than a good smoke and a car with character, with good handling aspects being top of the prize heap. Having spent more than a decade and a half with an English tabloid daily never being able to grasp the meaning of brevity or being succinct, he wags his tail furiously at the idea of waffling - in greater detail - about cars and all their intrinsic peculiarities here.

 

Comments

  • undertaker on Feb 18, 2016 at 8:21 pm

    why do people like this make our country’s decision? nak makan duit rakyat pun sorok2 la sikit…

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 77 Thumb down 1
    • hailthepurist on Feb 18, 2016 at 8:46 pm

      ‘only exemptions we want is that guy..’

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 51 Thumb down 3
      • Najib on Feb 18, 2016 at 10:26 pm

        Tesla is a much better car than the ‘new’ Perdana. Our Government is not interested in that old man’s car. Only sohais buy it

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 16 Thumb down 15
        • Songlap Songlap Malaysia on Feb 19, 2016 at 9:53 am

          Each Tesla car, even without taxes, is about RM400k Malaysia after direct convertion of the currency. This alone will cost the Malaysian Government, and our tax payers money about RM40 million.

          At a time of economic downturn, even Budget also had to modify, and low fuel prices for PETRONAS, is this a good move?

          Its looks like Songlapping is happening here. Someone from Greentech is making big money here. We should be tightening our belts.

          Oh btw, Tesla says all designs and Intellectual Property is FREE for the world. No need to fork out 1 sen.

          Since Proton employs the largest number of engineers of any car company in the world, (yes it is true), can’t our super engineers in Proton design and build an EEV car?

          Come on Proton, simply give free jobs to your engineers. Over 1000 engineers in Proton. Surely they can read the FREE designs and IP rights that Tesla is giving free.

          Tesla has officially told, all desgns and all technology is FREE for anyone to use.

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 34 Thumb down 0
      • Bijan on Feb 19, 2016 at 9:02 am

        Gip donation.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 0
    • Zoolander on Feb 18, 2016 at 9:44 pm

      TPP effect has started. If they are really being fair to the rakyat then they should allow import without tax every type of fully electric cars such as Nissan Leaf and the Renault cars. They are much much cheaper than the overhyped Tesla

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 30 Thumb down 0
    • They will have tonnes of excuses to simply spend using public money. Gov only news to open the market to other manufacturer to bring in green tech in regardless of engine capacity…

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
    • Anti-P1 = Anti-Tun M = Anti-Bersih = Anti-Party Hard = Anti-Dear Leader becum PM = Anti-ABU

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 18
    • Because the 100 Tesla are not for us. We all know why they exempted it from tax, and who the buyers will be.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 0
    • If you want to promote to have a more sustainable environment, you should duty free should be applied on hybrid car and fuel efficient car which affordable to normal rakyat. Tesla-S? who going to buy and afford to buy?
      Why giving tax exempted to rich people? Takde otak!!

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • And these cars will be snatched by the cronies

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 63 Thumb down 1
    • Betol Tak? on Feb 18, 2016 at 9:42 pm

      Assuming that rakyat unable to compare price online worldwide like in the year 1985 and be told by crony AP dealer the final price is cool RM500K without insurance.

      Can’t believe Elon Musk allowing his cars be sold by leechers more than feeling worried if China might cloned his cars.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 2
    • Let them buy all these rubish car from Tesla. Nothing worth about them.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 2
  • Najib on Feb 18, 2016 at 8:27 pm

    See? You don’t need to buy rubbish Proton created by that old man

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 26 Thumb down 14
  • Andrekua on Feb 18, 2016 at 8:40 pm

    Abang Kakak siapa pulak kali ini???

    Bila pulak giliran Rakyat Jelata???

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 28 Thumb down 0
  • shawal on Feb 18, 2016 at 8:43 pm

    i dun mind if they import 100 leafs or tesla model 3 for gov use to promote ‘EVs’ , but….a model s!?, damnit…..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 21 Thumb down 1
    • lilytan on Feb 19, 2016 at 8:24 am

      It makes no sense at all. How can this 100 units can promote the the use of EV? Further more the one who will bought the car like the GLC and elites didnt deserve the exemption.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0
  • Why do GLCs need Teslas? Prius C is also in line with the so called green initiative…better still, use pedal power!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 36 Thumb down 1
  • Now do the math, what’s the expected OTR price in Malaysia?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Kancil Hybrid on Feb 18, 2016 at 9:11 pm

    Menyampah betul tengok dia. Muka tebal selamba jalan sana-sini macam tak buat apa salah. Macam bagus.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 15 Thumb down 2
  • Sick&tired on Feb 18, 2016 at 9:13 pm

    Yahooo! More choices for the rich! S400 hybrid, volvo xc90 hybrid and now this! Poor and middle class still have to pay tax for cars.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 0
  • Complain complain… Not like you guys can afford it anyways.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 12
  • Stupid Msian Cars on Feb 18, 2016 at 9:27 pm

    Only for the cronies.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1
  • No tax but only for GLCs? This is BS. What more is there to understand about zero-emission vehicles and systems which have been tested to death for decades? The tech have also matured to the point of being mass-marketable. Looks like an excuse for certain parties to take the rakyat for a ride. Also disappointed with Tesla for going along with these ridiculous shenanigans.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
    • tokmoh. on Feb 19, 2016 at 10:16 am

      I generally have an idea of what actually happened.

      Some cronies/leech formed CONsultancy firm, that GreenTech or whatever.

      Pretending to be experts, prepare slides ala MAI, generally BS about going green, and of all possible ways, EV cars is the way. In truth, they just wanna self-satisfy themselves driving Tesla.

      They got govt grant, jolly show off like right now.

      Soon, they can buy more Tesla, lease out to GLC at over-inflated rate, make fat profit. GLC will be forced to subscribe to it, to “tolong orang kita” Greentech leeches.

      They banggala they can show off they helped make Msia greener because of Tesla. Raya time, they feel atas among their relatives.

      Menawhile, massive deforestation in Kelantan causes massive flood, Kuantan’s bauxite mining turned it into planet Mars, Sarawak deforestation, some new highway to cut through Ampang forests (KL outer ring or something), etc.

      There are so many more environmental problems, which if solved, give much better impact than 100 Tesla cars.

      So to conclude, Greentech syiok sendiri eco warriors, poi.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 0
  • How much is this?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • hassan abd. on Feb 18, 2016 at 10:02 pm

    To GLC linked co’s as official car ?
    To accord 100% duty exemption ?
    At the end of the day the rakyat has to pay
    full price for a basic car while selected premium cars ie S400 is also exempted from duty ?
    Again rakyat kena played out and yet we have
    John “cukurlah” fanning his ass.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 22 Thumb down 1
  • anonymous on Feb 18, 2016 at 10:12 pm

    When I saw it “The Teslas will be available only through a leasing scheme, and will be offered on a two-year leasing period to government-linked companies”. Heck in my mind I strongly, undoubtedly thinking that the leasing rates is sky high and the leaser is definitely the cronies.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Exemption only applies to crony. #1MTesla

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • kaizendesa on Feb 18, 2016 at 10:44 pm

    if u want to sample or to promote EV, why tesla? why? there are a lot of other EVs out there.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • Waste of tax payer money and wasget of resource on Feb 18, 2016 at 11:14 pm

    70,000 usd per car, x 100 = 7,000,000 usd x 4.2= rm29,000,000 gone to cronies and minister…… for what??? What be benefit it gives to us normal citizen?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
  • Only me on Feb 19, 2016 at 12:50 am

    Unbelievably bonker decision.. why in the world do GLCs needs Electric sport cars?? 0-100km in how many sec? GLCs have too much $$$ to spend izzit?? I wonder who will get the maintenance contract… mmmm…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 1
  • kopiokaokao on Feb 19, 2016 at 12:52 am

    On one hand budget cut cut cut….on the other hand he kept spend spend spend…where got budget issue? Malaysia memang boleh!!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 0
  • Stupid White hair malay on Feb 19, 2016 at 12:58 am

    Babi buat business tak pandai nk rompak negara. Puihh.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 13 Thumb down 1
  • “Only for GLC”… Another reason to channel out $$$… Not that rakyat jelata can afford or not… Its merely wayang for a confirmed figure…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • Add A Comment on Feb 19, 2016 at 8:41 am

    Elon Musk done even bother to take some times to see him. Just delegated to his VP….hahaha

    -I Have Just Added A Comment-

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Kanene…..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
  • “The PM said the duty exemption for the EVs was part of the government’s efforts to promote electric vehicles (EV) and cut carbon emissions. “These cars have zero-emission, and we want to create a more sustainable environment, so we would like to promote such cars in Malaysia,” he told reporters”.

    Maybe he should stop talking for once to cut his own carbon emission. Another is to give back all out money taken. What a load of s4!+. If you really want to cut carbon emission you can start by allowing more hybrid cars and electric car. Zero duty for 100 car. The PM said the duty exemption for the EVs was part of the government’s efforts to promote electric vehicles (EV) and cut carbon emissions. “These cars have zero-emission, and we want to create a more sustainable environment, so we would like to promote such cars in Malaysia,” he told reporters.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Good move by PM. now all they need to is to chase the RM300Million they paid to Proton to develop EV and Hybrids cars with their so called super partner Frazer and nash. I bet DRB and Proton claim their system is far better than Tesla. shame . I hope Tesla wake them up.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • I am fully supported the greening initiatives in all sectors which also includes the automotive sector. The tax exemption that was previously given to EV & hybrid was removed few years back. Then why now given back to only Tesla? Why not all the green vehicles?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • c.p. mohan on Feb 19, 2016 at 10:35 am

    One hand we want high technology on the other hand we “import” more unskilled migrant labour. It looks more like rich-poor divide than a forward looking strategy to me.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • jibby martha focker on Feb 19, 2016 at 11:07 am

    yippie kai yea martha fockers..more for jibby & the crows

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • aHming on Feb 19, 2016 at 3:44 pm

    soo kiut; he’s doing the kepit pose!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Ollie on Feb 19, 2016 at 3:48 pm

    We had reported that the leasing programme is sanctioned by Tesla, which is not keen to have its cars sold in direct fashion in Malaysia –

    Where the ___ did you get this news?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Anthony Lim (Member) on Feb 19, 2016 at 4:04 pm

      From GreenTech Malaysia itself, or rather the CEO – this was mentioned and reported some time back.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Ahming on Feb 19, 2016 at 3:49 pm

    Nicela; he’s doing the famous kepit pose! sweet.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • Jules Z on Feb 19, 2016 at 7:49 pm

    “Government officials who were present at the event said Tesla may restrict the purchase to government-linked companies, which continues to fall in line with that mentioned from the start of the initiative last year.”…………..from here to…………..”so the general public won’t be able to get their hands on one.”
    Soon, all official and GLCs’ cars would be Jewish. What do them loud and foul mouth mamaks from Penang have to say now?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Lawak on Oct 19, 2017 at 5:49 pm

    Tak ada cukai, wow! Nak promote “EV AWARENESS”? Yeah right, siapa jugak yang dapat kereta tu semua? Bukan rakyat. Yang dah dapat tu, ada kasi promote awareness tak kepada rakyat?

    Confirm tak ada. Kasi masuk koleksi dalam garaj je.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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