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By and enormous, shopping for a brand new automotive is an easy sufficient affair, with just about all of the issues of course of being dealt with by another person when you’ve determined you fairly fancy that recent steel and have put a down-payment for it. After all, there’s at all times a modicum of involvement in your half alongside the best way, however for essentially the most all the run is normally painless and sweat-free, the features predictable proper right down to closing supply.
So when a carmaker decides to go the direct route and have you ever deal with all of the issues a salesman normally would, all within the curiosity of price financial savings to consumers, so it goes, it actually can’t be that powerful, proper? Properly, until you’re acquainted with the workings, it may be, as seen from a variety of social media posts from Malaysian Tesla consumers in the course of the preliminary supply interval for the Mannequin 3 Highland, highlighting amongst different issues the chase for paperwork and go to/s to JPJ to the futility of calling Tesla supply assistants for clarification.
Whereas the noise has quietened a good bit on these channels, the shopping for course of itself stays fixed, and so we determined to seek out out what’s concerned within the DIY route and what early Highland consumers, having run that gauntlet, thought in regards to the general expertise and the way completely different it’s to different manufacturers when it comes to interplay and the various parts (insurance coverage switch, JPJ no plate, automotive mortgage, and so on), with the thought of giving those that are eyeing a Tesla buy down the road an inkling of what to anticipate and put together for.
We tried reaching out privately to a few homeowners, however they didn’t reply. Then, by probability, I obtained a WhatsApp message from my pal Barry Lim, who wished to ask in regards to the BYD Seal. It turned out he had purchased a Mannequin 3 Highland, and had taken supply of it a few days after the first deliveries of the automotive started. Seeing as he was in that early combine, I requested him to supply notes in regards to the shopping for course of to be fleshed out right into a story.
Barry, being Barry, determined to not stick with the temporary and opted to go one higher, offering the next long-form piece – which has solely been given minor edits for house-style and brevity – under. In it, he not solely particulars the shopping for expertise and issues to look out for, but in addition the explanations as to why he determined to go inexperienced and went for a Tesla, even going as far as to volunteer an opinion on the EV vs ICE debate. We’ll let him take centre stage from right here.
Pre-purchase, or why I purchased a Tesla
First off, right here’s my purchaser profile:
- Pre-middle-age male, married, two college going children
- Klang Valley-based higher middle-class landed home
- Lucky historical past of good previous and present vehicles (largely non-Japanese), however that is my first BEV
My two fixed areas of curiosity in life have at all times been vehicles and tech. EVs are an amalgamation of each, with Teslas particularly being so, having been described as “a gadget that so occurs to take the form of a automotive.”
I’ve toyed with the thought of an EV for a few years, particularly for the reason that missus has been onboard the environmental specific for a very long time, i.e., the vegetarian, cycle and stroll all over the place kind. Nonetheless, the dearth of EV entry and selection due to the non-conducive Malaysian automotive trade put the plan onto the again of a snail all this whereas. That was till the earlier authorities mooted the EV incentives a few years in the past, which modified the market dynamics to the advantage of the ‘EV-ready client’.
Truth is, EVs are costlier to fabricate in comparison with ICE. It is usually a a lot newer phase with a lot smaller economies of scale as in comparison with the incumbent possibility. This merely implies that not solely are the invoice of supplies (targeting the batteries) extra expensive, there’s additionally much less quantity from buyer demand, and shorter manufacturing lifespans.
This closing level is commonly missed by many: as EV applied sciences (batteries, motors, platforms) are newer, sitting on the early non-mature/nascent a part of the ‘know-how adoption curve’, not solely are there (comparatively) much less clients to unfold the event price, there’s additionally much less time for the know-how to be ‘market aggressive’ earlier than the ‘subsequent finest know-how’ comes round or will get found. I’ll come again thus far once more later.
Transferring on, at the same time as the federal government EV incentive plans got here into being, the key producers nonetheless determined they wished more healthy margins regardless of having the ability given a good interval of tax-free standing for his or her fully-imported EV fashions. A private instance I’ll spotlight (the Korean manufacturers are one other good instance) is the MINI Cooper SE that I used to be eager on. It was an early-entry mannequin with a beautiful ‘pre tax-free’ value of RM225okay. Tax-free pricing was introduced initially at RM184k, however in a short time revised upwards to just under RM200k.
This gave EV prepared clients like me a sense of being taken for a trip regardless of authorities incentives, and that there was little to be gained as an early adopter in Malaysia. Along with my current realisation that purchasing a two to three-year outdated second-hand automotive isn’t as tough and dangerous because it was once, I assumed I’d maintain off on an EV buy and intention for a tasty ‘posher’ used Mercedes-Benz EQE/Audi Q8 e-tron/Porsche Taycan as soon as these hit the second-hand market.
Heck, my guess was nearly sure-proof in my head as the final Malaysian car-buying public could be very a lot risk-adverse and at all times bikin tak serupa cakap (exhibit A: “I’ll positively purchase a guide model of XXX in the event that they provided it right here”).
This prudent technique fell aside upon the announcement of Tesla’s entry into Malaysia. At first, the expectation was that their core fashions just like the Y and three would seemingly be priced to compete with the likes of the Mercedes-Benz EQB/BMW iX3 and Mercedes-Benz EQA/Hyundai Ioniq 5 respectively. In spite of everything, the Chinese language entrants have been already pushing nearer to the RM200k determine than the RM100k finish. However Tesla Malaysia set to work in a short time.
When it first introduced the Mannequin Y priced from RM199k (which we initially booked), after which the up to date facelift Mannequin 3 Highland at RM189k, we didn’t must assume lengthy and arduous about placing the RM1k (non-refundable and never a part of the automotive value) reserving charge. This was accomplished on the very first day the Mannequin 3 Highland was introduced for Malaysia, which was September 1, 2023.
The Mannequin 3 Highland that I ordered was a Lengthy Vary model (RM218k), with a blue exterior (and normal black inside) including RM5k to that. Moreover, I opted for the Enhanced Auto Pilot (EAP), which added an additional RM16k, making the acquisition value RM239k.
Pre-delivery, in any other case often called ready
From readings of Tesla’s advertising and marketing mannequin abroad, it wasn’t a lot of shock to me that lots of the steps and course of of shopping for a brand new automotive with it could be very a lot completely different from the expertise of shopping for a brand new automotive with virtually some other model in Malaysia. The required milestones are the identical i.e., ebook, get your hire-purchase mortgage, insurance coverage NCD transferred, registration with JPJ (and plate quantity ‘interchange’ in our case) and supply/pick-up.
Nonetheless, in contrast to coping with only one gross sales agent (and possibly one banker), right here chances are you’ll not actually have a SA in any respect (akin to our case as a result of we booked on-line – for those who booked a Tesla in individual, the SA’s job ends upon taking your order).
For many of the first month, there was nothing to be accomplished and no recognized updates to our buy moreover the sooner introduced ‘year-end’ supply promise. We too didn’t do something, and certainly I didn’t even make any actual try and get rid of the spouse’s present automotive, which the Mannequin 3 was to interchange.
A while in October (month two), we have been contacted by what Tesla calls a supply agent, or DA in brief. The DA’s job is meant to assist ‘information’ the client via the mandatory steps and course of till the automotive truly will get delivered to him/her.
So, the first step was to get the financial institution mortgage accepted. Should you don’t have your personal banker, Tesla Malaysia will give you contact numbers so that you can attain out to. Its panels are Maybank and Ambank, I imagine. We went with Maybank via one other referral contact (from a Tesla group setup by some early consumers – we known as ourselves Tesla MIM for so-called ‘Made in Malaysia,’ and sure, we all know it’s not made in Malaysia).
As soon as the mortgage got here via, there was once more radio silence and the one notable exercise I did the remainder of October was to go check-out the bodily automotive for the primary time of their newly-launched HQ in Cyberjaya. No take a look at drives have been accessible, however that was tremendous as we had already skilled the outdated pre-facelift Mannequin 3 as a vacation rental for nearly a month a yr prior abroad, and there have been proxy take a look at drive movies by Hafriz Shah to maintain issues going. Oh, congratulations on the current nuptials, Hafriz!
In early November (month three), we have been contacted by the DA that our precise automotive had been allotted to us within the system. This was instantly mirrored within the Tesla app with an assigned VIN quantity (you get an account on the app upon making the reserving). With the VIN, we have been then speculated to proceed with the remaining steps.
Now, since in our case we wished to maintain the quantity from the outdated automotive and have it transferred to the brand new Tesla, this course of (by JPJ) known as “interchange” added a complexity that isn’t there for consumers that go for new numbers.
The interchange course of requires that an outdated plate quantity (i.e., used on any present car) be instantly transferred to the brand new car and can’t be saved ‘floating’ for any interval. Because the Tesla had not arrived (represented by a K1 kind issued by Kastam upon arrival of the particular automotive into the nation), we couldn’t try this as but.
Additionally to be saved in thoughts that on the identical time, the outdated automotive have to be then issued a ‘new quantity’ in the course of the interchange course of i.e., any outdated automotive (already registered with JPJ earlier than) can’t have an ‘outdated quantity’ assigned to it – both the automotive or the quantity must be new or unregistered per JPJ, which some say is to guard the used-car AP enterprise mannequin.
So, regardless of our mortgage and insurance coverage (issued with no plate quantity hooked up) all prepared and accomplished up (not with out its personal drama, as even the banks will not be solely certain about Tesla Malaysia’s processes), the important thing steps of (1) interchange, and (2) registering of the particular automotive was dramatically left until the morning of our assigned supply date, on this case December 1, 2023.
JPJ is the place I need to be, not
Principally, we wanted to deliver two kinds to JPJ: (1) the B2 kind issued by Puspakom upon inspection of outdated automotive for interchange functions, and (2) the K1 kind issued by Kastam upon arrival of the Tesla at a Malaysian port. Tesla Malaysia couldn’t get us the K1 kind till the early morning on Friday, December 1, the identical day we have been supposed to gather our automotive at 2.45pm.
With some work already scheduled for that Friday morning, we might solely get to a JPJ simply earlier than it closed its morning session for Friday prayers. We have been actually the final buyer to be transacted earlier than the JPJ workplace grilles have been shut!
With the newly-issued JPJ registration grant for the Tesla in our fingers, we went again residence, picked up the youngsters, obtained right into a Seize automotive and made our approach to Tesla Cyberjaya for our assigned assortment slot.
Precise supply
The Tesla supply course of was additionally one which was very completely different from our previous experiences choosing up a model new trip, particularly in a single key facet: clients have been assigned into batches and virtually collected their respective vehicles collectively. Issues might need modified for the reason that preliminary interval, however right here’s what clients who took deliveries of their vehicles early on skilled.
First, you arrive and get ushered to the registration desk (very similar to once you arrive for say, a convention) the place you pick your identify from an extended listing on a printed xls desk. Second, you’re then advised to huddle collectively within the ready space behind mentioned registration desk, with a water cooler and self-service espresso machine, which appeared out-of-service after we have been there.
Third, you then get huddled right into a briefing room (the scale of maybe a typical house’s main bedroom) with a Chinese language (by heritage) man talking in an actual – versus tv – American accent (to remind us that Tesla is an American model?) in regards to the fundamentals of Tesla possession and operations of the automotive e.g., swiping on the centre display screen for drive, reverse, in addition to buttons on the steering as a substitute of a sign stalk. The BMW homeowners within the room didn’t appear to care about this, for some cause.
Lastly, for the second of fact, you’re ushered in a bunch to the adjoining supply corridor (massive sufficient for 3 to 4 vehicles concurrently in there), which opens up via a single ramp to the automotive park space outdoors the constructing.
We have been then fairly randomly put right into a sequence to get our keycards – marked by the respective registration quantity – and had the choice to (A) go discover your automotive on the parking zone, get in, drive off, or (B) do A however then look forward to a slot to drive your automotive into the supply corridor, placed on the big purple ribbon and take footage, then drive off. Our household determined to do possibility B only for the heck of it in an effort to get the image you see right here.
Professional Tip: As that is your one and solely probability to make use of its ‘supply supercharger’ totally free, think about plugging in for a fast top-up earlier than you allow the parking zone as all of the vehicles we observed on the day had roughly 60% or so of cost solely. Not a difficulty, however if you happen to’re not in a rush, then why not get some additional electrical juice into your automotive totally free?
So, after precisely three months from reserving (in our case), we have been driving residence as one of many very first homeowners of the Tesla Mannequin 3 Highland on this planet. Is it actually an enormous deal? As ‘simply one other automotive’, possibly not. However as an EV, it apparently is a ‘large deal’. Why? Learn my summation under.
Publish-delivery ideas
Globally, Tesla has one way or the other (not one thing I personally perceive) constructed an nearly fanatical fan-base. In some methods, it may be likened to the Apple model that’s half aspirational, half nonsensical. Is it due to Elon Musk? Regardless of well-liked perception, Elon didn’t begin Tesla. He simply had cash to speculate it in, hearth the 2 precise founders, make himself chairman and CEO, and arguably make the Tesla ‘imaginative and prescient’ a actuality. So, is Tesla what it’s due to Elon? Due to the actual danger of being hunted by Tesla’s fanboys, I cannot state my place publicly.
Are we having fun with the Mannequin 3 Highland as a product? That’s a straightforward sure! In comparison with the pre-facelifted Mannequin 3, it is a product that has matured in very measurable methods, useful to consumers. As talked about earlier, we had the Mannequin 3 as a rental for a good sufficient interval, clocking in some good road-tripping miles in it. The most important gripes have been the tough trip, particularly within the rear seats, worse than common noise ranges, and a not very engaging exterior design. The facelift fixes all of the above, and sure, I just like the up to date seems to be very a lot.
Is there something that makes Tesla the default go-to EV model of alternative, at the least for now? Sure, just one. The Supercharger community. This very good worth proposition actually makes the model stand out, not only for customers, however on a wider scale as an ‘ecosystem builder’ at an trade degree. With its personal charging community, Tesla as an organization has to place effort (and cash) into not simply its vehicles and the mandatory provider community of companion companies, but in addition R&D into charging and its technical protocols, cope with vitality suppliers and land-owners in addition to handle the operations throughout all areas.
Proof that it has succeeded right here is that in different markets the place Tesla has been working for years now, the Tesla superchargers are recognized to be extremely dependable with simpler availability than different public chargers that presumably are the primary enterprise of their respective operators with a wider addressable market of many extra EV manufacturers. Nonetheless, is that this a deal breaker for different EVs? I believe not.
To EV, or to not EV?
As to the on-going “EV vs non-EV” debate of in the present day, my response is that this (for now, till I consider one thing extra good): will you ever refill your ICE automotive at a public petrol station if you happen to had your personal petrol station at residence with RON 95 at roughly half the worth per litre?
You see, so long as you match the factors of landed-living (which many Malaysians do, and others can too so long as they’re keen to both transfer a little bit farther from the town or purchase older landed properties as a substitute of solely contemplating new developments) and ideally have one other ICE automotive within the family for the occasional balik kampung journeys, you might have the right use-case of an EV client.
Ignoring the upfront buy value, which is tax-free for now regardless of costing greater than the equivalent-sized ICE possibility, the working price of an EV is roughly half for each kilometre travelled within the Malaysian context (not anticipated to alter a lot at the same time as petrol costs turn into unsubsidised, as TNB pricing can also be anticipated to rise).
Issue within the complete cost-of-ownership the place there are little to no scheduled servicing intervals (no main oil modifications), negligible wear-and-tear elements moreover tyres and wipers, and lastly the upper vitality conversion efficiencies of electrical motors in comparison with dinosaur-juiced engines, and the EV proposition begins to turn into a viable different.
In reality, I wish to emphasise the phrase “different.” EVs won’t exchange ICEs any time quickly. Doubtless not in our lifetime. Even in mature economies the place new ICE fashions will likely be banned in a couple of decade’s time, present ICE automobiles will proceed to run for the subsequent decade or two. Meaning 30 extra years in locations like western Europe and possibly North America. In different economies of Asia, Africa and South America, let’s maybe add one other two extra many years to that. In order that’s 50 years of arguing if you happen to nonetheless need to undertake a tough place on the EV vs non-EV debate, no? Fairly tiring, if you happen to ask me.
As an alternative, settle for that EVs are simply one other observe of automobiles to offer us customers extra choices. Each have their execs and cons and respective use-cases e.g., if you happen to do outstation journeys fairly often, an EV most definitely can’t be your (fundamental) automotive of alternative. Are Teslas for that matter good? In no way.
In my very own expertise and opinion (yours might fluctuate relying in your level of comparability), the much-hyped Tesla Autopilot (do not forget that we opted for the EAP add-on too) is extra hype than substance, at this juncture performing worse than that on my different present automotive, and there’s additionally the deletion of the ever present ultrasonic sensors to rely completely on the so-called ‘Tesla-vision’ and the pointless stalkless driving expertise to take care of.
Except for these minor niggles and the teething problems with the acquisition course of, our trip within the EV bandwagon up to now has been an excellent one. Is it for everybody? Nope. Is it good for the atmosphere? Discover I didn’t deliver up that subject in any respect, however if you happen to should focus on it, do not forget that EV improvement is at finest twenty years outdated versus a century for ICE improvement, so take into consideration the implications of that for a second.
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