'Ask Tesla', Zafrul says over EV maker ditching M'sia factory plans

Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz has sidestepped questions about Tesla Inc’s aborting plans to build factories in Southeast Asia, including Malaysia.

“You ask Tesla, I don’t work for Tesla,” Free Malaysia Today reported him as saying.

Asked if his ministry would be issuing an official statement, Zafrul (above) said “thank you” to reporters and left.

Malaysiakini reached out to Tesla yesterday and has yet to receive a response.

Earlier, Zafrul attended a Budget 2025 dialogue with electrical and electronics industry players at the Kulim Hi-Tech Park. Also present was Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Yesterday, Thai news portal The Nation reported that Tesla has cancelled plans to build electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing plants in Southeast Asian countries.

Quoting a Thai government source, The Nation reported that the United States EV manufacturer will focus solely on charging stations.

“Tesla is only discussing charging stations, with the factory plans suspended not just in Thailand but worldwide. They are not proceeding in Malaysia, Indonesia, or anywhere else except for China, America and Germany,” the daily quoted the source as saying.

‘Global commercial decision’

It also reported the move was “part of Tesla’s withdrawal of investment across Asia and beyond”.

Earlier today, Bernama quoted a spokesperson from Zafrul’s ministry as saying that Tesla’s recent move could have been due to its global operations commercial decision.

However, the spokesperson stressed that it does not reflect the industrial reforms and improved investment landscape that the ministry and its agencies have worked on since December 2022.

On July 14 last year, Anwar announced that Tesla chief executive officer Elon Musk had agreed to set up its headquarters in Cyberjaya.

“This is reassuring to drive the country’s economy. Therefore, Tesla’s entry into Malaysia will drive the country’s EV ecosystem.

“I gave my assurance to Musk. I have asked Zafrul to offer space and to pay attention to meet their needs,” he was reported saying.

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