Malaysia's investment, trade and industry ministry is examining how to structure a proposed EV levy intended to finance nationwide public charging infrastructure, minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani told reporters at an RHB Bank conference on 5 August 2026. He said MITI has not decided whether to impose the levy directly on the public or on manufacturers, though costs passed to carmakers would likely reach consumers, and emphasised the government must balance subsidies, electricity supply costs from gas and coal generation, and the need for EV and ICE vehicle coexistence.
Why it matters: The levy debate signals Malaysia may shift from subsidy led EV support to user or industry funded charging expansion, directly affecting project finance models and site development timelines for charge point operators. Clarity on levy rates and collection points will shape procurement budgets and revenue assumptions across the Malaysian charging sector.
MITIMalaysia5 Aug 2026Source Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani announced the government is studying a levy on every electric vehicle sold to finance public chargers, citing RM3.3 billion in forgone EV taxes and the shortfall against a 10,000 charge point target by end 2025. As of May 2026, Malaysia had installed 6,416 charge points, including just 240 across Sabah and Sarawak, with a revised target of 30,000 by 2030. The opinion piece argues the proposal misidentifies the problem, noting that energy companies, utilities and specialised operators such as ChargeSini, Gentari by PETRONAS, TNB Electron, Time Charge n Go and Shell Recharge dominate the network, not vehicle manufacturers.
Why it matters: A per-vehicle levy would create a dedicated funding stream for public charging procurement, potentially reshaping tender pipelines and competitive dynamics for CPOs and contractors in Malaysia. The policy debate highlights government frustration with deployment pace and may signal direct public procurement or subsidies that favour established energy and utility operators over automaker-led networks.
