Third national car project should focus on fuel-saving vehicles, benefits outweigh drawbacks – minister

Third national car project should focus on fuel-saving vehicles, benefits outweigh drawbacks – minister

The proposed third national car project should focus on developing energy-saving vehicles, says the head of Malaysia’s Ministry of Water, Land and Natural Resources, Xavier Jayakumar.

In a Bernama report, the minister said fossil fuels would probably last another 25 years, warranting the need to find more sustainable forms of energy and consumption. He cited brands like BMW, Mercedes and Porsche, which have already started pushing into the realms of electrification for future models.

“The way forward is, of course, the electric vehicle (EV) option. The evolution from fossil fuel vehicles to EVs has already begun. At present, while the world continues to watch F1 racing, Formula E- is fast picking up its set of fans. This to me is a viable way for the future. As such, I am sure the benefits of having a third national car will clearly outweigh its drawbacks,” said Jayakumar.

Among the benefits include providing the people with the ability to purchase environmentally-friendly vehicles at more affordable prices thanks to mass production of EVs here. Jayakumar also said such a move would encourage the growth of the Malaysian automotive segment on a wider scope.

Third national car project should focus on fuel-saving vehicles, benefits outweigh drawbacks – minister

“The learning of new technology will spur younger generations to pursue it and Malaysia can make its mark in the automobile segment not only in the region but globally as well. The EV car industry is relatively a new field with Elon Musk’s Tesla leading the way at present,” commented Jayakumar.

“The opportunity to get our youths to jump on board and expand it further is limitless. Let the government move forward with the idea,” he continued. Jayakumar also noted that that prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s intention to introduce a third national car was to boost and spearhead the country’s economy.

Recently, it was reported that two Chinese EV companies were willing to invest up to US$10 billion (RM41 billion) in the project, spread across a five-year period. Other companies from Japan like Toyota and Nissan have also expressed their interest.

As announced by finance minister Lim Guan Eng, a third national car project will be funded by the private sector and not with public funds. “In my opinion, should either deal go through, it could only benefit the country and its people in the long run,” Jayakumar added.

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Gerard Lye

Originating from the corporate world with a background in finance and economics, Gerard’s strong love for cars led him to take the plunge into the automotive media industry. It was only then did he realise that there are more things to a car than just horsepower count.

 

Comments

  • Meaning: Benefits to their pockets outweigh the drawbacks to the Rakyat. Yeah, we understand.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 36 Thumb down 1
    • Jati Melaysia on Aug 23, 2018 at 9:31 pm

      Rakyat benefited.
      https://paultan.org/2016/02/19/kerajaan-bersetuju-pengecualian-cukai-import-ke-atas-100-unit-tesla-model-s-inisiatif-greentech-malaysia/

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 5
      • Manifesto Dicapati on Aug 23, 2018 at 10:31 pm

        You mean like this?
        [paultan.org/2018/07/19/maa-reiterates-that-car-prices-set-to-increase-with-sst/]

        How? Please elaborate.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 0
  • TESLA LA on Aug 23, 2018 at 1:03 pm

    just rebadge tesla …ok…sell at 99,888. !! tq v v m

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 15 Thumb down 0
  • Zoro Astra on Aug 23, 2018 at 1:06 pm

    Are electricity power plants also moving away from fossil fuels or coal?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 13 Thumb down 0
  • Akula on Aug 23, 2018 at 1:10 pm

    It is me or politicians becomes dumber when they got power like becoming a minister?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 31 Thumb down 1
  • Merry go around on Aug 23, 2018 at 1:15 pm

    Don’t care what EV ! Just don’t repeat the history of potong by imposing heavy taxes on other makes!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 19 Thumb down 11
    • congkat guru on Aug 23, 2018 at 4:20 pm

      It’s careless to fancy for imported cars that’s sure outflow of money out of country!

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 1
  • Mikey on Aug 23, 2018 at 1:40 pm

    If Pro3 want to sell more cars in MY, they can always offer EV incentive for its small EV like below RM25k. Make the criteria the same as Low Cost Housing. This will benefits our B40 with low interest of 1%.

    If the people in the M40 want to buy, they can purchase it from RM35k(with slightly bigger/better options) with normal interest. Can it be done??

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
  • Petoron Sagu on Aug 23, 2018 at 1:40 pm

    Long run benefit country and people. Short run benefit who?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
    • Budzley on Aug 23, 2018 at 8:46 pm

      Long run benefit country and people. Short run benefit country people, oghang kampong…

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 3
  • What benefit can outweight the distortion of car price? I also want to know.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • Chris Ho on Aug 23, 2018 at 2:07 pm

    rakyat vote you guys to be the gov to ease our burden.

    rakyat say NO to third car MFR. NO means NO!

    give us cheaper car and improve P1 or P2 further.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 31 Thumb down 0
  • Sell RM 50K?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Not Toyota Fan on Aug 23, 2018 at 2:48 pm

    Read that one of the reason why foreign manufacturers went to Thailand for EV manufacturing was because of no response from SIRIM & JPJ. When no answers came from them, foreign manufacturers just moved on to Thailand, who welcome the investment with open arms.

    Let that not happen again, what with the new gomen in charge.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • Same L0rr on Aug 23, 2018 at 3:05 pm

    Fuel saving we have Perodua.. Proton is syiok sendiri..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 2
    • Truckers on Aug 23, 2018 at 3:48 pm

      Perodua only syiok sendiri when talking about fuel saving. My Myvi drinks as much petrol as my other Preve CFE.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 4
      • Sembanglah ngko.. semua tau preve cfe/turbo tu mcm mana. Tu sbb sales myvi jauh lebih banyak daripada preve. Tu pun nasib baik polis yg byk beli..

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 2
        • Pipu buy P2 becoz its cheap, not becoz its gud.
          Pipu buy P1 becoz they prefer Live Value over Regret Value for their famili.

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • A car with carbon fiber chassis, 1.2 or 1.6 turbo engine and with a kinetic energy recovery system.
    Should be perfect.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
    • Huehue on Aug 23, 2018 at 7:01 pm

      Carbon fibre chassis is expensive. Price of the car would be too high for people.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • tokmoh. on Aug 23, 2018 at 6:11 pm

    Perotiga needs Geely’s involvement. Then it will be as good as guaranteed success.

    Perotiga, Proton, Geely > all

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 3
    • Dun think Geely will wanna work with Kawan Bapak vendors to P1 that will soon jump ship to Protiga. They will be making a big mistake trying to work with them rather than focusing all their efforts onto P1.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • We want cheaper cars! We dont want Perotiga! Can someone please start a campaign on this???!!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
    • The campaign is called GE. And during the last one, “we” have voted to go for unnecessary Perotiga instead.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0
  • Fariz on Aug 23, 2018 at 10:49 pm

    Hmmm aren’t their cars gonna be expensive ? Even if they can be sold around 70-80 k (contoh la kan ‍♂️) .. cukai tinggi x (have no idea abt cukai on elctric vehicles) ? ‍♂️

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • David on Aug 23, 2018 at 11:37 pm

    That sounds like an appropriate reason to start a 3rd national auto company. Once I see that that is official & in black & white, then the gov has my support. Judging by the comments here though, Malaysians haven’t yet awoken to the fact that the future is with EVs. The demise of the fossil-fueled car is just around the corner and they’re still buying petrol & even diesel cars. It’s their loss.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 5
  • Add A Comment on Aug 24, 2018 at 7:19 am

    If we are going to have our own Tesla….then why not?

    – I Have Just Added A Comment –

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • UTurn M on Aug 24, 2018 at 3:36 pm

      Sure. Provided we have USD $750million to throw away every quarter.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
  • ..so, this is exactly what opposition was against, during time they were opposition, yes ?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
 

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