Here’s some big news – within the day of the unveiling of the new Nissan Leaf, Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) has confirmed that the second-generation electric vehicle will be launched in Malaysia next year!
As a reaffirmation of the local distributor’s electric ambitions, it’s a massive one. The company did sell the original Leaf here – at its launch at the end of 2013, it carried a RM168,800 price tag. That was, before the discontinuation of import tax and excise duty exemptions for fully-imported (CBU) hybrids and EVs raised that price to RM180,566 in 2015. A limited charging network was also rolled out to support it.
It remains to be seen just how much the new Leaf will cost. To qualify for incentives under the current Energy Efficient Vehicle (EEV) scheme, it would have to be assembled locally (CKD), so ETCM would either have to invest in either of its Segambut and Serendah plants to build the car, or work out a separate deal with the government to avoid a hefty price tag that comes with a CBU electric vehicle.
As a point of reference, the new Leaf will carry a starting price of 3,150,360 yen (RM123,222) when it goes on sale in Japan next month. Malaysia will get the car not long after its international launch – it will go on sale in European and North American markets in January.
To recap, the new Nissan Leaf receives significant gains in performance and range, with the electric motor now producing 38% more power and 26% more torque, at 110 kW (148 hp) and 320 Nm respectively. Juicing it is a higher-capacity 40 kWh lithium-ion battery that increases its range on the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) from 195 km on the original (later models could go up to 250 km) to 378 km.
Also new is ProPILOT semi-autonomous driving with adaptive cruise control and lane keeping, plus autonomous ProPILOT Park. There’s also an e-Pedal feature that allows you to speed up and slow down (even to a stop) solely by moderating the accelerator pedal.
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As much as the specs look fantastic. But the exterior design is a bit busy and lack of sophistication. Look very Honda-ish. Never the less can’t wait to see them here in Malaysia.
Nissan has been using this design for years whereas Honda just started with their latest design language from last year. Look very Honda-ish heh?
Hopefully ETCM will offer a good price. A good start on the EV car in Malaysia if the price is right
You want cheap car but full features like expensive cars: that’s proton job.
Eh hello? Sibuk nak launch Leaf baru pulak? X-Trail facelift apa cerita? Teana facelift apa cerita? Almera baru bila nak masuk? Grand Livina Grand Memalukan tu bila nak bungkus terus? Sylphy dah hancur? Product planners upgraded from sleeping to sleepwalking now??!!
Bravo ETCM !
Towards greener motoring!
Last time, people say Prius an-zua an-zua … but Nissan already much ahead now, but some people still VVT-i (x1, x2 …) Arh, not to mention, almighty GTR almost 10 years old now; new NSX launched. Hmm Subra? Arhhh they sourced engine from BMW LOL
There are not many charging stations in malaysia and charging time takes too long. that’s why electric cars here are not sellable and definitely it is not for long distance drive.
The previous leaf program comes with 2 charging stations per car. Somemore others added in shopping malls
most EVs are for city drive.
Still cheapo than totoya prius….. Saving rm10k a month from now…. 50% dp…. Huhuuhuu
Can get EEV incentive… just local pasang a dashcam or maybe just import the headrest separately and pasang in factory.
Not so simple. The car needs to be CKD here. No more hanky panky fake CKD anymore.
u sure CKD? i doubt it.. most probably its gonna CBU
Yes. To qualify for hybrid/EV exemption, the car needs to be locally assembly/made.
That’s the case for Naza hot selling Peugeot 308 last time when it is CKD for only installed the rim and bumper here. This was what salesman told me.
The whole world is trying to go green when it comes to transport. If Proton and Perodua cannot step up and produce such vehicles then a bigger tax break should be given to those that do. I would love to buy a locally produce EV, but while the import duty exists, I cannot justify buying and imported one at such a mark-up.
Not just a tax break incentive. The EV tech needs to be cheaper itself. Case in point, an Iriz EV is ready for production but how many pipu willing to pay Rm80k for it?
can you show us proof that the Iriz EV is ready for production? Or is this another lie like Malaysia has the cheapest petrol in the world?
Best proof is the car itself. Everything in the engine bay looks solid and well arranged for easy assembly. And also their CEO statement that Iriz EV is ready for production.
Oh and only u said that we have cheapest petrol and cheapest cars. So why get angry at what u said?
If its going to cost more then 100k, then please tell Nissan not to bring this car to Malaysia.
you aren’t their target customer anyway ..lol
<RM100k for a car which costs RM123k in Japan? What are you smoking bro?
so not exactly cheap then
If Japan is selling it for RM123k imagine what will the price be in Malaysia
under 150K to stand a chance..
KL famous for flash floods. Can imagine this car getting stuck in Jln Maarof/Jln Bangsar junction during such flash flood.
It is rare to see TCM make early announcements for major models like this second-gen Nissan Leaf. Until now, TCM has yet to announce any news on the latest Nissan March model, which in my opinion, is JUST what TCM needs right now (a Honda Jazz type of car).
So to hear such plans so soon *could* be an indication that Nissan or TCM has some sort of plan for the new Leaf in ASEAN or locally.
I say this because electric vehicles are popular in Europe, Japan, China and North America. These markets have the highest priority. ‘Test markets’ like ASEAN and most developing countries don’t buy many Hybrid cars, let alone EVs. So our market is always secondary to the EV producers.
But maybe now, Nissan is considering some form of local assembly here to qualify for tax rebates (the current Leaf is built in Japan, U.K. and U.S. only). And if that’s the case, it remains to be seen whether Nissan will choose to invest in their Thai plants or delegate Tan Chong instead.
It is worth noting that Malaysia is the leading Hybrid/ PHEV/ EV market in ASEAN. And Tan Chong has the Nissan franchise rights for six ASEAN countries (Malaysia, Singapore (through TCIL), Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia).
Additionally, I highly doubt that Nissan would invest hundreds of millions in EV car manufacturing in any ASEAN market, because the ASEAN EV market is just too small to justify large-scale investment (Hybrid manufacturing is ok). Most likely, Nissan will start with small-scale CKD assembly first, which coincidentally, is an area which Tan Chong specialises in. If Nissan chooses to assemble the upcoming Leaf locally, it will probably be built at Tan Chong’s Serendah plant, which currently assembles the Serena S-Hybrid and most Nissan models currently on sale locally.
But all of this is just speculation. Who knows what will happen… Interesting times ahead.
Is TC serious? Half the nation stay in condominiums. You are throwing in 50 powerbanks right?