Daily EV news · Malaysia · 31 July 2026

Malaysia's Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani has called for a comprehensive EV ecosystem that includes an adequate network of public charging stations, local technology development and a skilled workforce. Speaking at the line off ceremony for Proton's e.MAS 7 PHEV at the Tanjung Malim assembly plant on 31 July, Johari emphasised that EV industry development should not focus solely on vehicle sales. Proton has achieved up to 82 per cent localisation on certain models, with the new PHEV offering 1,100 kilometres of travel distance.

Why it matters: The ministerial statement signals that Malaysia's government recognises charging infrastructure as a critical enabler for EV uptake, potentially opening procurement opportunities for CPOs and equipment suppliers. With Proton ramping up PHEV production and achieving high localisation rates, demand for domestic charging networks is likely to grow alongside vehicle rollout.

Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Johari Abdul Ghani told the launch of Proton's first plug in hybrid electric vehicle production line in Tanjong Malim that Malaysia currently operates around 1,000 public EV chargers, far short of the national target of 30,000 units. He said charging infrastructure is a key challenge to EV adoption and will require collaboration between Tenaga Nasional Bhd, local authorities and the Ministry of Housing and Local Government. Johari noted that Malaysia has forgone RM3.3 billion in tax revenue through a four year duty free period for EVs.

Why it matters: The 30 fold gap between installed and target charger numbers signals major procurement opportunities for charge point operators and infrastructure suppliers in Malaysia. The minister's call for multi stakeholder collaboration points to upcoming tenders and public private partnerships to close the infrastructure shortfall.