On 14 February 2023, the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) and the Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii) successfully hosted the inaugural Electric Vehicle (EV) Conference 2023, with the primary objective of showcasing the government’s efforts in developing the EV industry and its ecosystem. The event garnered over 300 attendees from diverse industrial sectors, including Automotive, Electrical & Electronics, Chemical & Advanced Material and Machinery & Metal Technology. Notably, representatives from the Charger Point Operators and Logistics and Transportation Technology sectors were also actively participated in the conference.

The conference theme “Gearing Up for EV Revolution: The Malaysia Story” underscored the nation’s potential to be a significant player in the global EV market. YB Senator Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, the Minister of International Trade and Industry (MITI), graced the occasion as the esteemed guest of honour. In his keynote address, YB Senator Tengku Zafrul highlighted the government’s commitment to developing the automotive industry, particularly the EV industry, as part of its zero Greenhouse Gas (GHG) reduction by 2050, as outlined in the Tweltfh Malaysia Plan (12MP).

Dignitaries present at the conference included YB Liew Chin Tong, the Deputy Minister of MITI, and Dato’ Ahmad Suhaimi Bin Endut, Undersecretary, Public Asset Management Division, Ministry of Finance Malaysia (MOF). YB Nik Nazmi Bin Nik Ahmad, the Minister of Natural Resources Environment and Climate Change (NRECC), was also present and stressed that the development of the EV industry requires the collective efforts of all stakeholders and spans beyond the government initiative.

The conference centered on critical topics related to the EV industry’s development in Malaysia. The first panel discussion saw prominent industry players, including Volvo, Samsung, Proton, and Eclimo, deliberating on market competitiveness in the EV industry. Their insights provided invaluable knowledge to the attendees and offered a holistic view of the challenges and opportunities in the EV market.

In line with the National Investment Aspirations (NIA) and the New Investment Policy (NIP), Datuk Wira Arham Abdul Rahman, the CEO of MIDA, reaffirmed MIDA’s commitment to positioning Malaysia as a sustainable investment destination by attracting leading players in the global value chain thus elevating Malaysia’s position as the preferred technology partner for EV. Datuk Phang Ah Tong, the Chairman of MARii, further supported the assertion by highlighting the specific initiatives and directives outlined in the National Automotive Policy 2020 (NAP), the Low Carbon Mobility Blueprint 2021–2030 (LCMB), and the National Energy Policy 2022–2040 (NEP). These policies will strengthen the ecosystem for EVs and energy-efficient vehicles (EEVs), potentially spurring technology transfer, improving localisation, and developing know-how for the local automotive industry in Malaysia.

Highlighted throughout the conference was the importance of aligning the directions of EV development in Malaysia with the national directives laid forth in the NAP, LCMB, and NEP. In light of this, MITI with MIDA as a co-secretariat spearheaded the establishment of the National Electric Vehicle Task Force (NEVTF) to oversee the issues and challenges that industry players are facing and ease implementation towards electrification.

Overall, the conference was a success, providing a platform for stakeholders in the EV industry to share ideas, insights and best practices to develop a robust EV ecosystem in Malaysia. It highlighted the importance of collaboration among industry players, the government and other stakeholders to realise the vision of a sustainable and thriving EV industry in Malaysia.