Gentari Partners With Virta To Expand EV Charging Network In Southeast Asia
Gentari Sdn Bhd has announced a strategic partnership with Virta to expand its EV charging network across Southeast Asia. Gentari is a subsidiary of PETRONAS dealing with renewable energy, while Virta is a leading EV charging business solution provider.
This collaboration will leverage on Virta’s digital platform services, technology, and industry expertise with Gentari’s deployment and operation of EV charging infrastructure. The partners will also work with 3rd parties to enhance EV charging interoperability in Southeast Asia. This initiative aligns with Gentari’s long-term vision to become Asia Pacific’s premier green mobility solutions partner.
Gentari is deploying advanced EV charging services across Southeast Asia through its clean energy platform, Gentari Go. Launched in Malaysia in February 2024, Gentari Go has extended its services to customers in Thailand and Singapore, bolstering its leading position in high-powered direct current (DC) charging. The network currently boasts over 2,400 charging points across the 3 countries, with plans to add another 2,000 charging points 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 grown from its inception into a leading market player in e-mobility in only a year and a half, and we are happy to further catalyse growth with our market-proven, end-to-end global EV charging services and experience, including in Singapore, Thailand and Australia. Our customers and partners will benefit from our ecosystemic approach in enabling faster EV penetration across the whole region – ‘Powered by Virta’,” said Virta co-founder and Chief Business Development Officer Elias Pöyry.
Shah Yang Razalli, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Gentari and Chief Executive Officer of Gentari Green Mobility, added, “I am confident that Gentari is well-positioned to be a market leader in Southeast Asia. We already have a large footprint in the region and a deep understanding of local business needs and consumer expectations. Recognising the value of teaming up with a partner that brings global standards and industry experience, we see this collaboration as crucial in executing our plans with speed and scale.”
Virta, founded in Helsinki in 2013, is the leading European EV charging platform and brings a decade of expertise in EV charging services to the partnership. With over 1,000 charging networks in 36 countries, including some of the most mature EV markets in Europe, Virta has also established a presence in Southeast Asia since 2022.
As Southeast Asia and Oceania accelerate their adoption of EVs, the need for robust charging infrastructure becomes increasingly critical. Several countries in the region are already reporting double-digit EV shares in new car sales. The market is expected to develop rapidly, driven by the availability of affordable EV models from local and Chinese manufacturers meeting growing demand.
