Malaysia is considering a levy on electric vehicles (EVs) to fund charging infrastructure, even as export and pricing conditions on high-volume foreign assembly projects have left Chinese giant BYD’s planned 1.3 billion ringgit (US$318 million) factory in limbo. Economists and industry experts warn the two policy moves could raise ownership costs while weakening Malaysia’s appeal as a manufacturing base at a time when regional rivals are competing for EV investment. Malaysia’s Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti) was studying a levy on every EV sold to expand the public charging network, minister Johari Abdul Ghani told the upper house of parliament on Tuesday. Malaysia’s Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Johari Abdul Ghani says his department is studying a levy on every EV sold to expand the public charging network. Photo: Facebook/joharighaniofficialMalaysia had installed 6,416 public charging points by May 31, including 2,143 fast chargers, according to a written parliamentary reply from Miti in July – still below an earlier target of 10,000 by the end of 2025.