GWM awaits Malaysia’s EV policy clarity
Great Wall Motor (GWM) Malaysia says its electric vehicle plans remain in development, but the company is waiting for clarity on government policy after 2027 before making final decisions.
Speaking at a media briefing on the company’s first-half 2026 performance, GWM Malaysia chief operating officer Roslan Abdullah said the automaker’s product direction depends on the government’s next steps for locally assembled electric vehicles.
Tax breaks end in 2027, leaving future incentives unclear
Malaysia currently offers full tax exemptions for electric vehicles assembled in the country—known as completely knocked down (CKD) units—until December 31, 2027. Fully imported (CBU) EVs lost their tax-free status at the end of 2025.
The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) also enforces a minimum price requirement: CBU EVs must cost at least RM250,000 and deliver a minimum power output of 180 kW (245 horsepower).
“The government’s policy encourages CKD local assembly unless we want to sell our products for more than RM200,000,” Roslan said. “Battery-electric vehicles are still in the pipeline, but we need to see what the government policy will be after 2027.”
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Without new incentives, GWM’s current EV lineup—including the Ora Good Cat and Ora Good Cat GT—would face higher costs if imported. Neither model meets the RM200,000 threshold or the 180 kW power requirement, meaning they can’t be restocked as CBU units. The Ora 07, another imported EV, has already been removed from GWM Malaysia’s website.
Hybrids take priority as EV timeline stalls
For now, GWM Malaysia is focusing on hybrid and plug-in hybrid models. The company’s current lineup includes the Wey G9 Hi4 PHEV, GWM Tank 300 HEV, and Haval H6 HEV.
Two more hybrids are set to arrive soon: the Ora 05 HEV, expected to launch in the second half of 2026, and the Haval H7 Hi4 PHEV, slated for early 2027. Roslan said the shift toward hybrids simplifies the choice for customers while the EV policy remains uncertain.
The government has not yet announced whether it will extend tax exemptions for CKD EVs beyond 2027 or introduce new conditions. Until then, GWM Malaysia says it will keep its options open.
