KUALA LUMPUR: Gentari Sdn Bhd, a clean energy solutions provider and a subsidiary of Malaysia’s PETRONAS Group, is partnering with Virta, a leading EV charging business solutions provider, to expand the EV charging network across Southeast Asia. Gentari, through its subsidiary Gentari Green Mobility Sdn Bhd, will utilize Virta’s digital platform services, technology, and industry expertise to deploy and operate EV charging infrastructure. Additionally, the partnership will collaborate with third-party entities to ensure EV charging interoperability in the region.
As part of its long-term goal to become the leading green mobility solutions provider in the Asia Pacific, Gentari is rolling out advanced EV charging services through its clean energy platform, Gentari Go. Launched in Malaysia in February 2024, Gentari Go also offers access to chargers in Thailand and Singapore, reinforcing Gentari’s market-leading position in high-powered direct current (DC) charging. The network already includes over 2,400 charging points across these three countries, with plans to add another 2,000 by the end of 2024.
“This partnership has vast potential to capture the momentum of the energy transition in Southeast Asia. Gentari Green Mobility has rapidly grown into a leading market player in e-mobility within a year and a half. We are excited to further catalyze growth with our market-proven, end-to-end global EV charging services and experience, particularly in Singapore, Thailand, and Australia. Our ecosystemic approach will enable faster EV penetration across the region, ‘Powered by Virta’,” says Virta co-founder and Chief Business Development Officer Elias Pöyry.
“I am confident that Gentari is well-positioned to be a market leader in Southeast Asia. We have a significant presence in the region and a deep understanding of local business needs and consumer expectations. Partnering with an entity that brings global standards and industry experience is crucial for executing our plans with optimal speed and scale,” adds Shah Yang Razalli, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Gentari and Chief Executive Officer of Gentari Green Mobility.
Virta, the leading European EV charging platform, brings a decade of experience in EV charging services, having enabled over 1,000 charging networks in 36 countries, including the most mature EV markets in Europe. Virta has also been established in Southeast Asia since 2022.
The demand for robust charging infrastructure is increasing as Southeast Asia and Oceania accelerate EV adoption, with several countries in the region already seeing double-digit EV shares in new car sales. The market in this region is expected to develop faster than in the US and EU, driven by a wide selection of EVs from local and Chinese manufacturers offering affordable models to meet the growing demand.
