The first Tesla Model S’s are coming to Southeast Asia after Malaysia’s PM visited Fremont

[Hamartia Antidote]

https://electrek.co/2016/09/27/the-...t-asia-after-malaysias-pm-visited-in-fremont/

Earlier this year, Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak visited Tesla’s factory in Fremont during an official trip in California. After his visit, Najib vowed that Malaysia will be the first country to receive the Model S in Southeast Asia.

Just a few months later, it looks like he was right.

When governments attempt to convince Tesla to expand in their country, they generally try through new EV incentive programs, but Najib showed that he was serious in a different way.

He ordered 100 Model S sedans to import in Malaysia for used by “Government-linked Companies” or GLC. That’s despite Tesla still having no presence in the country and therefore, it can’t support customers with service centers, charging infrastructures and internet coverage for navigation or software updates.

Yesterday, a Malaysian automotive news website, Paultan, reported that the first batch of Tesla vehicles has been shipped and it will soon arrive in the country.

The first batch reportedly consists of 10 Model S sedans with 9 Model S 70’s and 1 Model S P90D.

The Prime Minister made the new Tesla imports duty-exempt and he will make them available government companies through a leasing program.

The vehicle should arrive in time for the government to announced an expected electric vehicle plan on October 5. The rest of the 100 Model S sedans have been approved to be duty-exempt and with the help of the upcoming EV program, maybe it will encourage Tesla to expand in the market.

 

[CountStrike]

Indonesia has received Model S in 2015
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Tesla Set to Ride Into Indonesian Market in Model S

The Tesla Model S electric car is now available to Indonesian drivers through the Jakarta-based Prestige Motorcars dealership with a generous price tag of between $140,000 and $190,000. (Photo courtesy of Prestige Motorcars)

By : Vanesha Manuturi & Tabita Diela | on 10:26 PM February 13, 2015
Category : Business, Corporate News, Automotive, Featured

Jakarta. Tesla’s Model S, a line of premium electric cars from Palo Alto-based Tesla Motors, officially made its way to Indonesia on Friday, marking the brand’s entrance into Southeast Asia.

Launched three years ago in the United States, Tesla’s Model S will be available in Indonesia through Jakarta-based premium car dealership Prestige Motorcars.

“We believe Indonesia is ready for a high-technology car,” Rudy Salim, the president director of Prestige Motorcars, said in Jakarta on Friday.

“The demand for premium cars here is still high, and the [Tesla Model S] provides an alternative for people seeking an environmentally friendlier option.”

Rudy added that the electric car, which can travel up to 400 kilometers on a single charge, would be sold in Indonesia for between $140,000 and $190,000, double the manufacturer’s suggested retail price in the United States.

“We’ll also install a charging station in the buyers’ home,” Rudy added.

The cars will not be readily available at the dealership, he conceded, but will be imported with each customized order. The first batch of deliveries are scheduled for April.

The dealership started taking orders on Friday and has already seen requests coming from Jakarta and Surabaya.

Prestige Motorcars is, so far, the only car dealerships in Southeast Asia to offer the Tesla Model S, the brainchild of engineer and entrepreneur Elon Musk. The 43-year-old is also chief executive of Tesla Motors and space technology company SpaceX.

Tesla Motors made its first official foray into the Southeast Asian market by opening a branch office in Singapore in 2010 and offering the Tesla Roadster. However, the lack of a green technology tax break and subsidies from the government forced the company close up shop 10 months later, according to a report from AutoEvolution.

Despite its popularity in the United States, the brand has experienced trouble gaining traction on the global stage. Last year’s sales figures for China, where Tesla set up a branch in 2013, was weaker than previously expected, reportedly triggering a tirade from Musk threatening to fire top executives in the country.

Nevertheless, Prestige Motorcars’ Rudy said he was confident that Indonesians would embrace the brand.

“The [sales] decline in China was due to the country’s slowing economy, not a lack of interest. In Hong Kong, for example, demand is high. It will be similar in Indonesia,” he said.

Tesla’s Model S will compete with other premium car brands that have already made their mark on the local market, including Italy’s Ferrari and Germany’s Mercedes-Benz.

The former has sold 473 units in Indonesia so far, according to Ferrari Indonesia chief executive Arie Christopher. The Italian brand now sells an average of 40 cars per year here.

GlobeAsia
http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/business/tesla-set-ride-indonesian-market-model-s/

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

Tesla is the real deal. Awesome cars. They are STUPID fast too, though i dont speak from personal experience. If only they were affordable

 

[Fenrir]

They are STUPID fast too

Funny thing about that; Tesla is being sued in Norway because the Model S isn't fast enough!

I do speak from experience, they're damn fun to drive. If I'm making a 4 hour round trip commute into Oslo every morning, I damn sure going to do it in style and comfort. I own a red Model S.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

A stock new Tesla can hit 10.79's just with clean wheels.

Of course that is from a full stop...starting at 60 on the highway is another thing.

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

A stock new Tesla can hit 10.79's just with clean wheels.

Of course that is from a full stop...starting at 60 on the highway is another thing.

a CBR600RR with warm slicks tires, a power commander V mapped properly to bikes spec, titanium headers, race midpipe and GP exhaust and aftermarket sprockets with a good rider (like me ) will run a 10.6 ...but that's with a very perfect launch and speed shifting