Tesla faces boycott in MY after Elon Musk backs Trump's Gaza plan

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Tesla is facing increasing calls for boycotts in Malaysia due to CEO Elon Musk's support for US president Donald Trump. Trump recently made headlines for his plans to take over Gaza and permanently displace Palestinians from the enclave.

Following Musk's open support for Trump, Malaysians took to social media to criticise Tesla's latest Model Y 'Juniper' car, with users even branding the car as a "swasticar", reported South China Morning Post. The term "swasticar" first emerged after Musk performed a hand gesture at Trump's inauguration resembling a Nazi salute.

The CEO has since dismissed the accusations regarding his hand gestures on X, saying that his critics "need better dirty tricks" and that he is "so tired" of the comparisons of him to Adolf Hitler.

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The calls for boycott have reportedly raised questions about Tesla's potential manufacturing plans in Malaysia. Just yesterday, The Edge Malaysia reported that the EV-giant's manufacturing plant in Malaysia remains under discussion. Investment, trade and industry minister Zafrul Abdul Aziz reportedly noted that Tesla may evaluate commercial viability amid intensifying competition in both regional and domestic markets.

Speaking to Dewan Rakyat on 20 February, Zafrul said that Malaysia's initial engagement with Tesla in 2023 primarily focused on setting up EV-related infrastructure. This includes charging stations and sales operations.

The minister reportedly added that several other countries in the Southeast Asian region are also seeking to attract Tesla. However, competition from other EV brands is affecting these efforts, said Zafrul. Some of these competitions include brands such as BYD, MG, Great Wall Motor and Neta.

The minister also noted that Tesla is facing growing global challenges with its sales targets due to the emergence of rival brands offering affordable yet technologically advanced EV models.

Additionally, Malaysian national carmaker PROTON has also unveiled its new EV brand in December 2024. The brand, known as e.MAS, is the nation's first electric vehicle and marks a new chapter in advancing Malaysia's commitment to sustainable mobility.

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