Executive Summary
Malaysia’s EV ecosystem evolved into a trust economy in 2025, where brand credibility, national identity, and digital narratives drove adoption beyond policy or pricing.
Malaysia’s electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem was no longer shaped purely by technology, pricing, or policy. Now, adoption decisions were increasingly driven by brand credibility, emotional confidence, national identity, ecosystem reliability and digital narratives increasingly influence adoption decisions.
Malaysia’s electric vehicle (EV) market has shown explosive growth over the past four years:
No Of EV Registration From Year 2022-2025
Public discourse, policy structure, and real market outcomes showed that EV adoption had moved beyond experimentation and entered a structural growth phase.
Here are the 3 converging forces shaping the market:
• Technological aspiration
EVs were perEVs symbolised modernity, intelligence, and future readiness.
• Trust architecture
Consumers evaluated brands not only on performance, but on reputation, reliability, and perceived long-term security.
• Narrative influence
Social media discourse increasingly shapes brand legitimacy faster than traditional advertising.
Rather than a single EV market, Malaysia had developed a fragmented EV perception economy which global tech brands such as Tesla positioned as innovation leaders, Chinese EV brands framed as value disruptors and national brands seen as identity anchors.
Forecast: 2026
TIV dips to 790,000 (-3.8%); EV 3.9–6.3% share via CKD. 2027 stabilises at 8–10%. Growth may slow post-exemption due to price hikes on CBU imports, but CKD ramp-up (Proton, BYD, Chery, Perodua QV-E) and new models could keep share rising toward 10%+ by 2030 (NETR target).
Market Landscape
The leading EV models and carmakers in 2025 illustrate how the automotive market landscape has evolved.
Chery & BYD Enter Top 10 Car Brand In 2025
Chinese Automakers Are Leading In Volume
Data showed national brands’ dominance but highlighted a key shift, which the Chinese car brands such as Chery (#5) and BYD (#6) ranked among the top 10 overall makes for the first time, largely fueled by EV adoption and affordable SUVs.
2025 marked Malaysia’s EV tipping point from niche (<3% share) to noticeable (~5.5%), led by BYD’s volume, Proton’s local hero status, and Chinese brands’ rapid rise. The market is maturing fast, with affordability and localisation as the winning formula.
EV registrations grew 14.8%: 3,017 (2022), 13,144 (+336% YoY in 2023), 21,789 (+66% YoY in 2024), 44,813 (+105% YoY in 2025). Nationals dominated TIV, but EVs elevated largely by Chinese brands (BYD #6 overall).
Growth Drivers:
- Incentives Policy: CBU exemptions (ended Dec 2025).
- Localisation: Proton e.MAS CKD success.
- Infrastructure: The increase of approximately 2000 public chargers in 2025.
Top 30 EV Models in Malaysia for 2025
Broader Market Implications
- National wins: Proton e.MAS 7’s dominance shows CKD (local assembly) + national brand + right pricing can beat imports.
- Chinese automakers still leading in volume: Chinese models dominate practicality as SUVs/MPVs (family space, ground clearance for urban/flooding) win over sedans.
- Premium segment smaller: Tesla, BMW, Porsche, Mercedes, Volvo, MINI are present but far behind in volume, indicating premium buyers are a minority.
The transition from niche adoption to structural market presence. EV adoption had moved into real purchase behaviour. Consumer confidence was translating into transactions.
Perception Gap
Social Engagement vs. Actual Market Share Of The Top 3 EV Brands In 2025
The market revealed a clear separation between attention-led brands and conversion-led brands.
PERCEPTUAL MAP INSIGHT:
BYD as the only clear market leader, combining strong conversation share with the highest market share.
Proton emerged as a quiet converter, indicating volume-led performance without proportional buzz.
Tesla clustered nearer the centre of the map in this set, reflecting meaningful market presence but not dominating buzz once BYD’s conversation intensity was accounted for.
This structure indicated a market where perception, consideration and conversion were misaligned, highlighting a growing perception gap between what consumers discussed and what they ultimately purchased.
In contrast, several high-buzz brands appeared to be attention-rich but conversion-constrained, indicating that visibility alone did not guarantee volume. The gap revealed two distinct growth models in the market: brands driven by narrative and mindshare, and brands driven by execution and conversion.
Bridging The Gap Through Key Risk With Loss Opportunity
Consumer Sentiment
Social Engagement vs. Actual Market Share Of The Top 3 EV Brands
Overall Sentiment Of The Top 3 EV Brands
BYD 70% positive, 20% neutral, 10% negative
- Core Positioning: The Practical Value Champion
- Buzz Drivers: Promo posts, owner reviews, Hertz rental mentions
KEY NEGATIVE THEMES
Negative sentiment around BYD was limited and typically revolved around brand origin bias, long-term durability concerns, and resale uncertainty.
KEY NEUTRAL THEMES
Neutral narratives reflected comparative evaluation of rival brands, owners discussed pro and cons of brands, promotions, and other Chinese electric vehicle brands, and long-term reliability, battery performance, resale value, and service infrastructure.
KEY POSITIVE THEMES
BYD’s positive sentiment was driven by rational confidence and value intelligence. The brand was widely named as a “smart decision” rather than an aspirational purchase. Positive conversations centered on practicality, technology accessibility, pricing logic, and perceived operational maturity. BYD was not discussed as a novelty brand, but as a credible mass-market EV solution, signalling strong trust conversion rather than emotional branding.
Proton 80% positive, 15% neutral, 5% negative
- Positioning: The National Anchors
- Buzz Drivers: Launch excitement, comparison wins vs. imports
KEY NEGATIVE THEMES
Negative sentiment was concentrated around performance doubts, quality anxiety, and execution risk rather than brand rejection. Criticism typically focused on concerns about product maturity, service consistency, and whether national EV offerings could truly match international benchmarks.
KEY NEUTRAL THEMES
Neutral sentiment around Proton was largely evaluation-driven rather than sceptical. Discussions focused on comparisons with foreign brands, performance expectations, charging practicality, and long-term ownership considerations.
KEY POSITIVE THEMES
Proton’s positive sentiment was driven by identity-based trust and national confidence. Social discourse consistently framed Proton as a “safe choice” in Malaysia. EV transition, anchored in “faithfulness” and “faith in resilience and perceived reliability.” Positive conversations were less about technological superiority and more about emotional security, the belief that Proton represented continuity, service assurance, and national capability in adapting to new mobility. The eMAS positioning reinforced the perception that EV adoption could be financially accessible, structurally sustainable rather than experimental or elitist.
Tesla 60% positive, 25% neutral, 15% negative.
- Core Positioning: The Premium Aspiration
- Buzz Drivers: Owner reviews, Supercharger mentions
KEY NEGATIVE THEMES
Negative sentiment was mainly driven by price barriers, accessibility concerns, and elitist perception, rather than product distrust. Criticism was structural rooted in affordability and relevance to everyday consumers rather than reputational damage.
KEY NEUTRAL THEMES
Neutral sentiment reflected psychological distance rather than doubt. Conversations centred on price accessibility, practicality, charging convenience, and real-world ownership feasibility.
KEY POSITIVE THEMES
Tesla’s positive sentiment was driven by innovation authority and symbolic leadership. Social discourse framed Tesla as the technological benchmark for EVs, associated with intelligence, performance, and future mobility. Positive narratives were aspirational, positioning Tesla as the brand that defined what EVs “should be.”
2026 Policy & Model Outlook
How policy shifts influence model trends in 2026?
Fiscal incentives and policy signalling had heavily influenced Malaysia’s EV adoption momentum in 2025. Malaysia’s EV demand in Q4 of 2025 had been visibly “pulled forward” by policy deadlines. JPJ data showed EV registrations more than doubled to 44,813 units in 2025 (+105.7% YoY), with EV share peaking at 8.4% of total registration in Dec 2025, explicitly linked to the end of the CBU EV tax expiration on 31 Dec 2025.
Repricing & recalibration in 2026:
Imported EVs facing higher on-the-road pricing as taxes applied under the prevailing structure, unless further extensions were announced.
Key Policy Summary for 2026
| Policy | Details | Implications |
| CKD EV Incentives | Extended until 31 Dec 2027 (confirmed) | Local assembly CKD priced under RM150k stay competitive. Expect more CKD announcements Q1-Q2 2026. |
| EVs Road Tax | Effective starting January 1 2026 | The new, kW-based road tax for EVs is designed to be on average 85% cheaper than the previous, pre-2022 internal combustion engine (ICE) equivalent formula. |
| NETR Targets | 15% xEV (EV + hybrid) by 2030, 80% by 2050 | Government pushing for charging infrastructure development and local battery ecosystem. More subsidies expected for charging operators & CKD battery plants in 2026. |
Growth will increasingly depend on locally assembled (CKD) models, with incentives extended until end-2027.
2026 EV MODELS TREND & OVERALL OUTLOOK
- Mass-market affordable CKD EVs that priced under RM150K dominates the market.
- Premium Chinese automakers such as Denza, Zeekr, XPeng to challenge Tesla in the luxury segment.
- PHEV growth to address range anxiety while keeping running costs low.
- CBU premium slowdown is causing EV automakers such as Tesla, Mini and Mercedes to face price pressure.
EV Ecosystem Outlook
Malaysia was becoming a stronger regional base for EV assembly and supply chains
Proton’s EV industrialisation accelerated with its EV assembly capabilities, and reporting indicated the e.MAS 7 moved into CKD local assembly for 2026, including pricing repositioning.
BYD and Sime Motors’ roadmap emphasised CKD local assembly, with production slated for H2 2026 at a large facility in Tanjong Malim.
Xpeng models scheduled for local assembly starting in 2026.
EV CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE: THE CONFIDENCE BOTTLENECK
Infrastructure remained the most visible constraint on adoption confidence. As of late 2025, Malaysia was reported to have 5,360 public charge points (approximately 1,791 DC and 3,569 AC), still short of the national target previously associated with the end of 2025. While Malaysia is still far from achieving its 10,000 total EV charge points by 2025, the DC charge point count has already exceeded its initial target of 1,500.
Charging availability is still the #1 consumer concern
Current Charging Infrastructure Development
- Public charging points are projected to reach 8500 units of AC target now by Q3 2026.
- Leading operators: Gentari (TNB), ChargeSini, ChargEV, JomCharge, Tesla Supercharger network.
- Limitations: Coverage remains concentrated in the Klang Valley and major highways; rural and East Malaysia lag significantly.
Outlook: Urban and intercity travel becomes more viable, but range anxiety persists in non-urban areas.
Top EV Influencers & Media in Malaysia
Influencers and Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) accelerate the “narrative influence” force, bridging perception gaps by turning high buzz into conversions.
TOP EVs Automotive KOLs & Media
- Tai Choo Yee 90K IG Followers 293K YT Subscribers Detailed, ownership-style content on Proton e.MAS series, BYD models, Tesla, and emerging EVs about practical insights on daily use, charging, family suitability, and long-term costs. High credibility as an actual EV user and framing nationals/Chinese brands as safe, intelligent choices.
- Nazzco (Nazz Abdullah) 120K IG Followers 775K YT Subscribers Automotive influencer, podcast host & founder of NAZZ&CO Media covers mass-market EVs and supercars, including Proton debuts and Chinese brands, with captivating narratives. Strong on innovation and lifestyle appeal for high-end/Chinese EVs, high-reach virals and podcasts influence aspirational + pragmatic viewpoints.
- Paul Tan’s Automotive News 262K TT Followers 242K YT Subscribers One of the leading automotive media that focuses on providing honest, data-driven EV updates, including pricing breakdowns, real-world range and charging testing, and launch announcements, high regard for fair, educational content that encourages urban families and buyers to think.
- Pandulaju 995K TT Followers 590K YT Subscribers Popular reviewer focused on everyday usability and Malaysian road realities. Delivers relatable, family-oriented content on running costs, practicality, and infrastructure gaps. Resonates with mass-market buyers; bridges buzz to conversion for affordable CKD EVs.
- Mekanika 775K TT Followers 905K YT Subscribers One of the leading automotive media that focuses on real ownership realities. Critiques EVs on maintenance, service expertise gaps, long-term costs, and practicality vs paper specs. Viral content highlights “abang Hamdan” perspective (everyday mechanic view); adds grounded scepticism to counter hype, amplifying concerns like charging and durability.
- Key Auto.MY 25.7K TT Followers 11.2K YT Subscribers Specialist in Chinese-brand EVs (BYD, Chery, Zeekr, XPeng), often covering imports/local CKD shifts, performance tests, and value comparisons. Bridges origin bias by highlighting tech/accessibility/practicality. Builds “smart decision” narratives for Chinese disruptors, contributing to their volume leadership through targeted, feature-focused reviews.
Impact in 2026
These KOLs and media fueled most of the engagements on affordable nationals (Proton/Perodua pride) vs practical pushback, such as battery costs, queues. Chinese brands gain value framing, whereas nationals risk reputation drag from unresolved critiques.
Opportunity: Partner for transparent after-sales and localisation content to build trust in CKD era.
Top News Headlines Surrounding EV Market
Explore the EV’s Momentum in 2025
Headlines and viral social content mirror and amplify core market themes, with a clear emphasis on practicality over aspiration. These high-engagement TikTok videos reflect the narrative influence and trust architecture themes central to the 2025-2026 transition, where rational confidence in everyday usability increasingly determines consideration and conversion, beyond policy incentives or hype.
This social discourse reinforces the market’s maturation toward structural, execution-driven growth where affordability, localisation, and confidence in infrastructure outweigh novelty or symbolic leadership.
TOP News Headlines
Ini dia, #proton #spad #berat launching soon, harga sekitar RM60k-BM60k Best ke tak best? #paultancars #paultan #protonemas #carsaffitok #cartok #cartitok #malaysia #viral #trending #fyp #foryou #foryoupage
@t@paultancars):
Detailed introduction and review of the Proton e.MAS 5 which is priced at RM60k-80k.
82.2K Total Engagements
01 Dec 2025 – 14:02:04
Perodua QV-E, kereta elektrik mampu milik yang ditasikkan oleh anak Malaysia sendiri ?? Patut tak kami pelit? #pandulaju #perodua #qve #ev #malaysia
@t@pandulaju):
The post examines the anticipated Perodua QV-E, evaluating its potential as an “affordable EV” for everyday Malaysians.
57.2K Total Engagements
12 Nov 2025 – 14:30:11
Ini dia, #EV baru dari #Perodua yang bakal dilancarkan bulan ini Dom tengok detail? lebih teliti. #paultancars #paultan #peroduaev #carsaffitok #cartok #cartitok #malaysia #viral #trending #fyp #foryou #foryoupage
@t@paultancars):
Perodua’ first EV announcement with an informative and promotional tone.
37.7K Total Engagements
01 Dec 2025 – 12:29:31
1 DIS 25: PERUSAHAAN Otomobil kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua) melancarkan secara rasmi kenderaan elektrik (EV) pertama keluaran syarikat itu yang dikenali sebagai QV-E ditawarkan pada harga RM80,000 tidak termasuk insurans dan bateri. QV-E
@t@utusantvofficial):
News-style Perodua QV-E launch coverage announced the price at RM80k, excluding the Battery and insurance coverage.
34.2K Total Engagements
03 Dec 2025 – 00:33:55
PERODUA QV-E MENIPU RAKYAT, MITI LULUSKAN – PEMERHATI KENDERAAN elektrik (EV) kebanggaan Malaysia keluaran PERODUA didakwa menipu rakyat, dijual tanpa bateri. #Berita757 #RakyatkeutamaanKami
@t@berita757_official):
Critical “PERODUA QV-E: Menipu Rakyat dengan Kos Tersembunyi” with accusatory tone on battery exclusion with high shares and calls for KPDN action.
27.2K Total Engagements
01 Dec 2025 – 11:30:03
Akhirnya Perodua hadir dengan EV sendiri. QV-E 100% buatan Malaysia. #perodua #ev #buatanmalaysia #baru #peroduaqve
@t@mekanika.malaysia):
Detailed mechanical and ownership-focused review of electric vehicles in the Malaysian context.
19.7K Total Engagements
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