EV sales rising, but after-sales support struggling to keep pace

 From battery concerns to limited repair options, industry players say the realities of EV ownership are becoming harder to ignore.

Concerns over costly battery replacements, weak after-sales support and limited repair capability are growing as EV sales continue rising in Malaysia. (Envato Elements pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Malaysia’s electric vehicle (EV) market may be expanding rapidly, but concerns are growing that manufacturers are bringing in more vehicles than the ecosystem can support them.

Industry players said many Malaysians are drawn by the attractive pricing and low cost of charging the battery compared with the price of petrol or diesel, but they have yet to fully understand the realities that come after the purchase.

For instance, they have pointed out, that the high cost of replacing batteries as well as limited access to charging facilities, reliable repairers and servicing options are still a major concern.

As of April 2026, Malaysia had 5,619 public charging bays nationwide, including 1,898 DC fast chargers.

However, a large proportion of the infrastructure is concentrated in the Klang Valley, leaving drivers outside urban centres struggling with long charging times and scarce fast-charging facilities.

The industry players said weaknesses in servicing and repair support have also become a major issue for EV owners.

Of the 10 independent automotive workshops across the Klang Valley that FMT has reached out to, seven said they currently do not carry out EV-related repairs due to lack of specialised training and concerns surrounding the battery systems.

Several workshops said they are prepared to handle tyre or suspension work involving EVs but avoid battery-related and software-system repairs due to safety risks and limited diagnostic capability.

Suresh Nair, sales executive at Carconnections Subang, said many EV owners still depend heavily on authorised service centres to deal with major problems.

“There are EV workshops coming up, but many are still not fully equipped yet,” he told FMT.

“It’s going to take some time before independent workshops can properly handle electric cars.”

Nair said many owners still have little choice but to return to authorised centres for more significant repairs involving batteries or software systems.

“For bigger issues, customers still have to go back to the dealer or franchise centre,” he said.

He also said EV ownership in Malaysia appears to be growing faster than the support ecosystem in some areas, particularly involving repairs and long-term servicing.

Battery replacement costs have also become a growing concern for those thinking about long-term ownership.

While most EV manufacturers offer battery warranties of around eight years or between 160,000km and 180,000km, replacing a battery after the warranty expires is costly.

Public estimates circulating within Malaysia’s EV industry suggest battery replacement costs can range from around RM20,000 to more than RM50,000, depending on the vehicle model and battery type.

Based on discussions within a prominent Malaysian automotive Facebook group with more than 205,000 members, concerns surrounding EV servicing and long-term ownership costs also appear to be growing among motorists.

In one discussion sighted by FMT, a user compared the estimated servicing cost of a Zeekr 7X against a Honda CR-V over 120,000km, claiming the EV’s servicing costs could exceed RM7,000 compared with around RM4,800 for the petrol-powered SUV.

One EV owner, who identified herself as Amanda, said she continues to receive battery-related warning notifications even after sending her vehicle for inspection multiple times.

“After a few months, the same issue surfaced again,” she claimed.

Amanda said she initially bought the EV to cope with rising petrol prices but now regrets the decision due to repeated technical concerns and uncertainty surrounding long-term servicing support.

“At first, I thought switching to an EV would save me money because petrol prices keep going up. But after dealing with all these issues, I have considered selling the car,” she added. - FMT