Geely's Malaysia Launch Challenges Tesla, BYD: A New Era In EV Competition?

Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd. GELYF is bringing its brand of electric vehicles (EVs) to Malaysia, where it will contest with industry leaders including Tesla, Inc. TSLA and BYD Co., Ltd. BYDDF.

The Chinese corporation launched three vehicle models in Kuala Lumpur: Pro, Premium, and Brabus, according to Bloomberg.

Pricing starts at 189,000 ringgit ($40,640) for the Pro and goes up to 249,000 for the Brabus, while Tesla's Model 3 and BYD's Atto start at 189,000 and 148,000 ringgit respectively in Malaysia, the report added.

Also Read: Geely And Baidu's Joint Venture Unveils Jiyue 01 EV, Priced Competitively Below Tesla Model Y

Pro-Net, a subsidiary of Malaysia's national carmaker Proton, in which Geely holds a 49.9% share, will handle the distribution of the Smart cars. Additionally, Pro-Net will extend its distribution to Thailand and plans to bring the brand to the east Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah next year, aiming to capture 10% of the country's EV market share.

Geely is making an investment of an unspecified sum in a state-of-the-art automotive city in Tanjung Malim, Perak, which also houses Proton car manufacturing facilities, the report read.

Mercedes Benz Group AG MBGAF, a collaborator in the Smart project, became the first car manufacturer to locally assemble an electric vehicle in Malaysia this year, starting with its EQS model, it added.

Also See: Mercedes-Benz Teams Up With Buc-ee's To Roll Out Premium EV Charging Hubs Across US

At a media briefing on Tuesday, Proton CEO Li Chunrong affirmed the company's plans to develop its own EV in the future, Bloomberg noted. 

While he didn't divulge further specifics, he emphasized that the immediate priority is to begin the local assembly of Smart EVs in Malaysia, the report added.

Price Action: GELYF shares closed lower by 2.44% to $1.20 on Monday.

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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