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Malaysia Raises Minimum Price and Power Requirements for Fully Imported EVs Starting July
The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry issued regulations that raise the minimum retail price and power output for fully imported electric vehicles. The changes, effective from July, set insurance and freight costs at a minimum of 200,000 ringgit ($51,000) and power output at 180 kilowatts. Japan Times reported the move is expected to limit many mid-range models in the Malaysian market.
May 7, 3:50 AM·1m read1 source
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Malaysia will limit the entry of fully imported electric vehicles from July under new regulations issued by the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry. The ministry issued a circular to car importers detailing the changes, which effectively increase the minimum retail price of fully imported EVs and also increase the minimum power output for such models.
The cost of insurance and freight for the vehicles should be a minimum of 200,000 ringgit, equivalent to $51,000, with minimum power output set to 180 kilowatts, the ministry said.
The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry issued a statement on Wednesday outlining the requirements. Japan Times reported that the regulations are set to push out many mid-range Chinese cars from the country’s market. People visited the BYD booth at the Beijing Auto Show on April 30, an event that highlighted the growing presence of Chinese EV makers in global markets ahead of the Malaysian policy shift.
The new rules come at a time when fully imported models have gained traction in Malaysia, particularly those from Chinese automakers offering competitive pricing and specifications below the thresholds now imposed. The circular sent to importers specifies that only models meeting the elevated insurance, freight and power benchmarks will qualify for entry after the July cutoff.
This marks a clear policy pivot by Malaysian authorities to reshape the composition of the EV market, favoring higher-end imports or locally assembled vehicles that fall outside the fully imported category.
