The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) is considering requiring companies importing fully built-up (CBU) electric vehicles to contribute to the installation of additional EV charging facilities, its minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said, according to media reports.

The proposal could become a future requirement aimed at expanding electric vehicle adoption and increasing nationwide access to charging infrastructure, Johari said during proceedings in the Dewan Rakyat. He stated that companies importing CBU vehicles would be expected to participate in the provision of such facilities.

As of December 31st, 2025, a total of 5,624 public chargers had been installed nationwide, representing 56% of the government's 2025 target of 10,000 public chargers, Johari said. Of these, 1,923 were DC fast chargers, exceeding the target of 1,500 units. In contrast, AC chargers stood at 3,701 units, accounting for approximately 43% of the 8,500-unit target, the minister said.

Johari said that the availability of fast chargers significantly influences consumer decisions to switch to electric vehicles, adding that greater emphasis has been placed on the installation of DC chargers. He also stated that EV owners were advised to install charging facilities at home, according to the report.

The shortfall has been attributed to the slower pace of AC charger installation. The Malaysia Zero Emission Vehicle Association (MyZEVA) estimated in 2024 that the target of 8,500 public AC chargers would only be reached in the third quarter of this year.

Among the EV brands in Malaysia with dedicated charging networks is Tesla, which secured an exemption from having a local partner for its franchise Approved Permit (AP) under the Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) Global Leaders programme in 2023.

One of the conditions attached to Tesla's exemption was that at least 30% of its DC fast chargers, each with a minimum capacity of 180 kW, would be made accessible to the public and available for use by electric vehicles from other brands from 2025. However, this condition has not yet been fulfilled, as Tesla Superchargers remain accessible only to Tesla vehicles.