Proton outpaces Malaysian auto market as its Q1 sales jump 40.1% to a 22-year high Announced on April 2, 2026, Proton reported March sales of 15,706 units (ICE, EV, PHEV), up 15.4% MoM and 12.8% YoY, lifting its Q1 volume to 49,140 units (up 40.1% YTD), its strongest performance in 22 years. This came despite a 4.9% contraction in Malaysia’s total industry volume (TIV), with Proton’s market share reaching 25.1% for March and 27.4% YTD, the hi...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/10

Meta Bright Group secures AmBank financing for EV charging expansion in Malaysia Announced on April 7, 2026, Meta Bright Group Berhad said its 51%-owned subsidiary, Meta Bright Chargesini Sdn Bhd, obtained banking facilities from AmBank on April 6 to support the expansion of its EV charging business. The package includes a term loan of up to MYR 8 million to partially fund the procurement and installation of EV charging infrastructure, as well as...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/09

Mitsubishi Xforce SUV goes on sale in Malaysia; pre-orders exceed 2,000 in 2 months Announced on April 8, 2026, Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) has launched the sales of the Xforce compact SUV, with pre-orders exceeding the initial 2,000-unit target since bookings opened on February 5, 2026.  Locally produced at the Pekan plant (HICOM Automotive Manufacturers (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.), the Xforce joins the Xpander as a core model for the Malaysian ...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/08

Malaysia’s key local automotive industry players back MITI CKD policy clarification Reported on April 3, 2026, Malaysia’s automotive industry players expressed support for the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry’s (MITI) clarification on CKD-related policies following the BYD CKD issue, reaffirming a development-oriented approach to investment, localization and long-term industry sustainability. Proton stated that it plans to assembl...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/08

Tesla extends three-row Model Y L to Japan, seven other Asian markets Tesla has launched ordering for the Model Y L, its long-wheelbase six-seater electric SUV, across eight key Asian markets: Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines, with deliveries slated for Q2 2026. The announcement signals a major expansion for the family-oriented variant first introduced in August 2025 in China. The model is b...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/08

Toyota Malaysia officially launches 3 BEV models: bZ4X, Hilux BEV, Urban Cruiser EV Announced on April 2, 2026, UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) officially launched three BEV models in Malaysia, marking their first official availability in the local market. The lineup spans passenger SUVs, urban mobility vehicles, and commercial pickups, showcasing Toyota’s Multi-Pathway electrification strategy. The Toyota bZ4X, a C-segment electric SUV priced from MYR...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/07

JPJ reveals Malaysia’s top EV registrations in March 2026, rankings by brand and model Reported on April 3, 2026, Malaysian Road Transport Department (JPJ) data showed Proton maintaining its leadership in the local EV market (by brand) in March 2026, registering 2,377 units. It was comfortably ahead of BYD (879), Tesla (338), iCaur (257), and Zeekr (177). The rest of the top 10 included MG (112), Volvo (90), Xpeng (72), BMW (67), and Leapmotor ...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/07

MITI clarifies open investment rules for BYD and other foreign automakers in Malaysia Reported on March 31, 2026, the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) has issued a statement clarifying its policies on foreign automotive investment and BYD’s CKD assembly plans in Malaysia. Earlier reports suggested that MITI had imposed restrictive conditions on BYD’s Tanjung Malim plant, including a reported requirement to export up to 80% of...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/03

2026 Isuzu D-Max with new 2.2L turbocharged diesel engine launched in Malaysia Announced on March 31, 2026, the 2026 Isuzu D-Max has been launched in Malaysia, headlined by a new 2.2L turbodiesel engine and an 8-speed automatic transmission, alongside styling and equipment updates. The new RZ4F-TC 2.2L four-cylinder turbodiesel replaces the 1.9L unit, producing 163 PS and 400 Nm, and is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission co-developed w...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/03

or International joint venture, focused on global production and sale of EVs. The JV plans to start producing Leapmotor SUVs later in 2026 at a Stellantis plant in Zaragoza, Spain, near a battery plant Stellantis is building with CATL. Leapmotor and Stellantis also plan to produce EVs in Brazil and Malaysia, in projects that will initially rely on assembly of imported knock-down kits. (Detroit News and other sources on April 2, 2026)...

News  Updated at: 2026/04/03

ng support, durable yet lightweight structures for heavy-duty operations, integrated fleet management functions, and adjustments for tropical climates. Jiuzi plans to expand its presence by developing sales and after-sales networks in Vietnam while pursuing opportunities in Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia, aiming to support broader adoption of electric commercial vehicles across Southeast Asia. (From Jiuzi Holdings Inc. release)...

News  Updated at: 2026/03/25

cluding the Tomakomai Eastern National Petroleum Stockpiling Base, to sell them to three major oil distributors and Taiyo Oil Co., Ltd. (Taiyo Oil) under discretionary contracts. On March 28, an oil tanker that loaded crude oil at Yanbu Port in Saudi Arabia and conducted transshipping activities in Malaysia will arrive at Taiyo Oil’s Shikoku office in Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture. On April 5, a tanker departed from Fujairah Port, UAE, will al...

News  Updated at: 2026/03/25

Omoda C9 PHEV launched in Malaysia with initial CBU units, followed by CKD models from Shah Alam On March 18, 2026, the Omoda C9 PHEV was launched in Malaysia, priced at MYR 208,800 (OTR, excluding insurance). The model arrived as a limited 50 fully imported (CBU) units, followed by locally assembled (CKD) production units in Shah Alam. The C9 PHEV uses a Super Hybrid System with a 3-speed dedicated hybrid transmission (DHT), allowing the engine ...

News  Updated at: 2026/03/19

ket. While historically dominated by Japanese OEMs, their market share has declined to just over 70% amid the growing presence of Chinese OEMs such as BYD Company Limited (BYD), as well as VinFast Trading and Production Joint Stock Company (VinFast) of Vietnam and PROTON Holdings Berhad (Proton) in Malaysia. In response, TPR is accelerating efforts to expand its customer base, including Chinese OEMs, making diversification a key medium-term prior...

News  Updated at: 2026/03/18

Proton X90 SUV launched in Malaysia with updated powertrain and lineup On March 11, 2026, Proton introduced the updated 2026 Proton X90 in Malaysia, featuring a revised powertrain and simplified lineup.The SUV adopts a 1.5-liter i-GT turbocharged four-cylinder engine, replacing the previous 1.5-liter three-cylinder with a 48V mild-hybrid system. Output is reduced to 181 PS and 290 Nm, paired with a 7-speed DCT and delivering fuel consumption of a...

News  Updated at: 2026/03/18

Jetour T2 off-road-style SUV launched in Malaysia as locally assembled model Reported on March 13, 2026, Jetour has launched the Jetour T2 SUV in Malaysia, with the locally assembled (CKD) model priced at MYR 157,669 OTR without insurance. An early-bird MYR 2,000 rebate is available for the first 3,000 registrations. The model recorded 368 bookings within the first 24 hours after launch. The T2, also known as the Traveller in some markets, featur...

News  Updated at: 2026/03/16

JPJ reveals Malaysia’s top EV registrations in February 2026, rankings by brand and model Reported on March 10, 2026, Malaysian Road Transport Department (JPJ) data showed Proton maintaining its lead in the country’s EV market (by brand) in February 2026 with 1,802 registrations, ahead of BYD (469), iCaur (294), MG (206), and Zeekr (191).  The rest of the top 10 included Tesla (144), Leapmotor (90), XPeng (75), TQ Wuling (66), and Volvo (46)...

News  Updated at: 2026/03/13

countries under Section 301(b) of the Trade Act of 1974 relating to structural excess capacity and production in manufacturing sectors.  As part of its investigation, the USTR is requesting consultations with the governments of China, the European Union, Singapore, Switzerland, Norway, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, Bangladesh, Mexico, Japan, and India.    The investigations will be used to determine whether ...

News  Updated at: 2026/03/13

ch 12. A WEY model is also scheduled for launch later in the year. The company has invested more than THB 20 billion in Thailand and plans to invest at least an additional THB 10 billion to support new vehicle development, manufacturing upgrades, and export capabilities. Export destinations include Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Brazil, and Australia. GWM also stated that its vehicles use auto parts manufactured in Thailand by leading suppliers, i...

News  Updated at: 2026/03/12

MG S5 EV enters local assembly in Malaysia at EPMB Pegoh plant; bookings open Reported on March 10, 2026, SAIC Motor Malaysia has begun local assembly of the MG S5 EV, with the first CKD unit produced at EPMB’s Plant 2 in Pegoh, Melaka. The model is MG’s first locally assembled vehicle in Malaysia and supports the company’s localization strategy and the local EV supply chain. Production is expected to reach 120–180 units per month, or 1,5...

News  Updated at: 2026/03/10