Chinese carmakers take the wheel in Malaysia’s fast-charging EV market

[KUALA LUMPUR] Chinese electric vehicle (EV) brands have quietly overtaken European, American and even local competitors to dominate Malaysia’s emerging EV market, riding a wave of shifting consumer perception, favourable pricing and aggressive regional investment.

In the first six months of 2025, Chinese EVs accounted for nearly 50 per cent of all new electric cars registered in Malaysia, with close to 8,400 units sold out of a total 17,251, indicated Road Transport Department data.

The clear front-runner is China’s BYD, which alone delivered 5,434 units, outpacing home-grown Proton’s 4,043 cars and US-based Tesla’s 2,399 vehicles. BYD’s early advantage stems from having introduced its first EV, the Atto 3, in 2022.