Malaysian car sales rise 3% in first half of 2026 as EVs surge
Malaysians bought 385,353 vehicles in the first half of 2026, up 3% from 373,636 in the same period last year, the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) said.
Source: Paul Tan's Automotive News · July 22, 2026 at 3:49 AM · AI-assisted report
Single-sourceKUALA LUMPUR, 22 JULY 2026 —
Malaysians bought 385,353 vehicles in the first half of 2026, up 3% from 373,636 in the same period last year, the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) said.
Market Impact
With 49% of its original 790,000-unit total industry volume (TIV) target already reached, the MAA raised its full-year forecast to 800,000 units from 790,000. Last year’s TIV hit 820,752, beating the 2024 record of 816,747.
Electric vehicles led the growth. Sales jumped 106% year-on-year to 26,192 units from 12,733, while hybrids rose 43% to 25,590 units from 17,840. The MAA said 2026 could become the first year EVs outsell hybrids if current trends hold.
Still, EVs made up only 6.8% of total sales. Including hybrids, electrified vehicles reached 13.4% of the market.
Proton’s eMas range drove EV growth. The eMas 5 sold 10,665 units and the larger eMas 7 moved 2,865 in the first six months. Tesla figures are excluded because the brand is not an MAA member.
SUVs continued to dominate showrooms. Sales climbed 19% year-on-year, and seven SUVs appeared in the top-20 models: Proton X50, Perodua Traz, Perodua Ativa, Honda HR-V, Toyota Corolla Cross, Chery Tiggo and Proton eMas 7 PHEV.
Pick-up sales fell 19%. The MAA attributed the decline to high diesel prices before the Budi Diesel subsidy aligned with the Budi95 petrol scheme last month. The drop mainly affected lifestyle buyers, it said.
National brands strengthened their grip on the market. They captured 67% of sales, up from 63% in the first half of 2025, leaving 33% for imports. The shift continues a decade-long trend that has reduced the share of non-national marques.
Related: Tesla