KUALA LUMPUR: In September, The Country Caller reported that Ahmad Hadri Haris, CEO of GreenTech Malaysia, a non-profit organization that started a Model S leasing program last year, announced that the first batch of the premium sedans are about to hit Malaysia soil. Now, the deliveries of the new Tesla cars have started in the country, according to Paultan.org.
The publication reported today that the 10 Model S received their customer clearance by late October and the first vehicle was recently shipped to a customer, with two or three owners to get keys of their new vehicles later this week. The program endorsed by Tesla was initially just for the public entities, government-linked companies, and corporate members. However, now it has been expanded to private companies and multinationals willing to participate in the green-energy program.
GreenTech has formed a joined venture a car-rental company, Insas Pacific Rent-A-Car (PRAC), called PRAC GT. to offer leasing of the Model S, which is the only way to get the vehicle as customers cannot do an outright buy. The Model S 70D and 90D are being offered through a lease of two-to-four years. However, since Tesla has discontinued 70kWh battery pack option, it might be replaced with the 75kWh version.
Malaysians can get the Model S 70D for MYR 10,500 ($2,500) per month for a two-year lease, MYR 10,250 per month for three-year lease, and MYR 10,000 per month for a four-year lease. The Model S 90 is available for MYR 12,500, MYR 12,250, and MYR 12,000 for the same leasing periods, respectively.
Interestingly, the rates include an annual insurance, road tax of MYR 10 per year, and M2M connectivity, allowing them to gain access to Tesla’s onboard services, as well as services and maintenance fees, and the use of ChargEV and Tesla chargers. Customers can also opt for a lease-to-buy option, which includes tax exemptions for excise and import duties. For this, a customer determines the vehicle’s specifications, pays one-time price for the vehicle. However, he/she will require leasing the vehicle for at least three years before transferring the ownership.
The Model S 60 and P100D are also expected to become part of the program. Earlier this year, Malaysia Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced that the government has approved the duty-free importation of 100 Model S sedans in a bid to promote EVs in the country.
