After confirming its entry into Malaysia back in March this year, Tesla has now announced the date to its official brand launch here on our shores – July 20, 2023. Malaysia will become Tesla’s third market in South East Asia, following behind Singapore and Thailand.
The American EV carmaker has not revealed any information on upcoming models just yet, but it’s not difficult to guess, given that both the Model S and Model X have been discontinued for the right-hand-drive market. That leaves the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y, both of which are also offered in Singapore and Thailand as well.
In the Land of Smiles, both Tesla models are offered in three similar variants, including an entry-level single motor variant, alongside two dual-motor AWD variants with different power outputs to make up the Long Range and Performance options. The Single Motor RWD variants are mated to 57.5 kWh battery pack, while the dual-motor options get a larger 75 kWh battery.
For reference, here are the specifications and pricing for both models in Thailand:
- Tesla Model 3
- Single Motor RWD – 283 hp, 420 Nm; 455 km range (WLTP); THB1,759,000 (approx. RM233k)
- Dual Motor Long Range AWD – 498 hp, 493 Nm; 614 km range (WLTP); THB1,999,000 (approx. RM264k)
- Dual Motor Performance AWD – 513 hp, 660 Nm; 547 km range (WLTP); THB2,309,000 (approx. RM305k)
- Tesla Model Y
- Single Motor RWD – 347 hp, 420 Nm; 455 km range (WLTP); THB1,959,000 (approx. RM259k)
- Dual Motor Long Range AWD – 514 hp, 493 Nm; 542 km range (WLTP); THB2,259,000 (approx. RM299k)
- Dual Motor Performance AWD – 534 hp, 660 Nm; 514 km range; THB2,509,000 (approx. RM332k)
Tesla is the first carmaker to apply for the Ministry of International Trade and Industry’s (MITI) BEV Global Leaders initiative. The programme is aimed at increasing EV demand in the local market, according to MITI minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Aside from selling cars in its Tesla Experience showrooms, Tesla will also be establishing an office here in Malaysia (with a workforce mostly made up of Malaysians), alongside a service centre network, as well as a Supercharger DC fast charging network that will also be open to the non-Tesla EV owners, as part of the BEV Global Leaders agreement.
READ MORE: Tesla officially enters Malaysia – to establish sales and service centres, Supercharger network
