PETALING JAYA: New rules governing fully imported electric vehicles (EVs) have thrown prospective buyers into a state of confusion, leaving many uncertain whether to proceed with their purchases.
Under the regulations, which took effect yesterday, completely built-up (CBU) imported EVs must now meet a minimum cost, insurance, and freight (CIF) value of RM200,000 and a motor output of 180kW.
However, imported EVs already in the country, at local ports, or in transit before the July 1 deadline can still be sold under the previous framework until inventories are depleted.
For 28-year-old doctor-in-training Amy Lau, the policy shift has disrupted her plans to buy an imported EV priced around RM100,000.
“My brother and I have been saving for years now to buy one together but now we will likely not be able to save enough in time to make the initial down payment before the stocks run out,” Lau said.
“I have always been a fan of GWM and BYD’s EV designs but now I will likely have to turn to locally made EVs that meet my budget, if I even want to switch to EV anymore.”
Marketing executive Nur Aisyah Rahman, 34, said the pricing uncertainty has made her more cautious, noting that even frontline staff seem unclear about the transition.
“I’m now trying to figure out if I’m buying old stock or something that will cost more under the new rules,” she said.
“Even the salesperson I have been in contact with couldn’t give me a straight answer on whether my planned booking falls under pre-July inventory or new import pricing.
“If the difference is a few thousand ringgit, I can accept it but if it changes the whole loan structure, then I will need to rethink everything.”
Bernard Lim, a 42-year-old engineer from Klang, is now actively questioning dealers to determine if available units are existing inventory or subject to the new threshold.
“I was ready to book last week, but now I’m asking more questions.
“If it’s old stock, it might offer better value; if not, I will need to recalculate my budget,” Lim said.
“It also doesn’t drive confidence that some dealers appear to be in a wait-and-see mode.
“EV is not just about the car’s price but also on charging, insurance, and resale value. If the import entry price changes, I’m now worried how everything else will be affected.”
Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) president Mohd Shamsor Mohd Zain told The Star that EV sellers remain obligated to disclose pricing and inventory origins at the point of order.
“Whenever sellers take an EV order, they must disclose the exact price and whether it is existing or new stock to the buyer,” Mohd Shamsor said.
“Prospective buyers themselves should be able to gauge if an imported EV is new or old stock by looking at the seller’s quoted price, since new stock will likely always be sold at over RM200,000.”
He added that the new rule would likely cause a temporary setback for the EV market, with shortages of certain models expected for a few months.
With fewer imported models available, he said demand is expected to shift towards remaining CBU stock and incoming locally produced completely knocked-down (CKD) vehicles.
