Q1 2025 Vehicle Registration Surge As EV Momentum Builds

Malaysia’s automotive sector continued its strong sales trajectory as the first-quarter of 2025 comes to a close, with vehicle registrations climbing significantly.

According to the latest data from data.gov.my, a total of 191,768 vehicles were registered from Jan through March, with 71,111 units in March alone, marking a 5.6% month-on-month increase from Feb.

Petrol-powered vehicles remained the market’s backbone, accounting for 165,247 registrations in Q1. March alone saw 64,283 petrol vehicles registered, up 7.4% from Feb. Leading the charge were perennial favourites like the Perodua Bezza, which hit 12,707 units in March (up 30.9% from Feb), and the Myvi with 7,798 units.

Other standouts included the Axia (7,300 units) and the Proton Saga, which continued its upward climb to 6,429 units. This consistent growth underscores Malaysian buyers' sustained preference for compact, fuel-efficient petrol cars.

Electric vehicles (EVs) registered a remarkable 43.2% increase in March compared to Feb, rising from 1,370 to 1,963 units. The Proton e.MAS 7 maintained its lead, posting 678 registrations in March. The BYD Sealion continued its breakout streak with 526 units, while the Tesla Model 3 followed closely with 437 units.

While the EV market still lags behind petrol in volume, its growth rate highlights increasing consumer confidence, supported by expanding charging infrastructure and growing brand presence.

Hybrid vehicles showed modest growth overall, with March registrations reaching 1,016 units, slightly up from Feb. The Toyota Corolla Cross remains the segment leader with 723 units, while the Honda HR-V and CR-V hybrids gained ground.

Diesel vehicle sales—driven primarily by pickup trucks and commercial applications—held firm, with 4,482 units registered in March, up from 3,187 in February. The Toyota Hilux continued to dominate the segment with 2,042 units, while the Isuzu D-Max and Mitsubishi Triton held their own.

The Ford Ranger showed signs of recovery after a Feb slump, bouncing back with 589 registrations.

With the first quarter of 2025 showing robust growth across the board, all eyes are now on the upcoming sunset of the CBU EV import and excise duty exemptions, which may drive a short-term surge in EV purchases. 

Beyond 2025, however, uncertainty looms. Do check out our projected price of EVs without the exemptions below.