Malaysia’s new vehicle market declined by 3% to 68,007 units in May 2025 from 70,254 units a year earlier, according to registration data released by the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA).
Economic growth in the country slowed to 4.4% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2025 from a downwardly revised 4.9% growth in the fourth quarter of 2024, reflecting slowing export growth and slightly weaker domestic consumption growth. Malaysia’s central bank has kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 3.0% for the last two years.
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In the first five months of 2025 the market declined by 5% to 316,737 units, from record sales of 333,309 units in the same period last year. Light passenger vehicle sales fell by 3% to 295,213 units in this period while commercial vehicle sales plunged by 23% to 21,524 units.
Separate industry data showed that sales of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) increased by 59% to 13,871 units year-to-date, driven mainly by China’s BYD Auto and its Denza brand with 4,880 units combined, and the recently-launched Proton e.MAS7 with 3,400 sales, while Tesla sold 1,810 units.
Total vehicle production in the country fell by 12% to 299,886 units in the five-month period.
Market leader Perodua reported a 1.5% decline to 143,860 units year-to-date, slightly outperforming the overall market.
Proton’s global sales fell by 4% to 60,187 units in the first five months of 2025, including 1,327 units exported. The Saga was by far its best-selling model with 26,511 sales, followed by the Geely-based X50 compact SUV with 9,704 units, and the Geely-based S70 sedan with 7,944 units. The company confirmed that production of the Saga began at its CKD plant in Egypt in February, with the aim of supplying markets across North Africa.
