Budget 2023: New incentives for electric vehicles needed, says Proton Holdings deputy CEO

Proton deputy chief executive officer Roslan Abdullah

KUCHING: Budget 2023 should include new incentives to promote the growth of Malaysia's electric vehicle (EV) industry.

Proton Holdings Bhd deputy chief executive officer Roslan Abdullah said the incentives should be aimed at attracting consumers to switch to EVs and bring in investment for the industry.

"EV are a new technology and requires investment. It has the potential to increase investment in Malaysia,” he said.

"If the government can provide attractive incentives to bring in investors, we can make Malaysia a hub for the production and distribution of EV components," added Roslan when speaking to reporters at a media session here on Tuesday (Feb 14) night.

In addition, he said existing incentives for EVs should be extended so that more consumers would be interested in buying the vehicles.

Budget 2023 will be tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Parliament on Feb 24.

Roslan also said Proton was working with Smart Automobile Co Ltd to distribute smart vehicles in Malaysia, with the first model to be launched in the fourth quarter this year.

He said Proton had also set up a wholly-owned subsidiary, Proton New Energy Technology Sdn Bhd (Pro-Net), to market the smart EVs and provide after-sales service.

"As a national car maker, Proton has to take the lead in adopting EVs," he said, adding that opportunities were now open for EV dealerships to be set up under Pro-Net.

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