As Malaysia charts its path towards net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, sustainability has evolved from an aspiration to a national priority goal. The transportation sector, one of the largest contributors to carbon emissions, is now a key area of focus.
Within this context, petrol-powered cars that have long been favoured for their efficiency are increasingly seen through the lens of their environmental impact. These impacts are highly related to resource depletion and greenhouse gas emissions that later contribute to severe climate change. As a result, the global community has begun turning to more sustainable alternatives — Electric Vehicles (EVs). Rechargeable and powered by electricity, EVs are gaining momentum globally, and Malaysia is no exception.
In Malaysia, the government has set ambitious targets for EVs to represent 15% of total industry volume by 2030 and 80% by 2050, outlined in the Low Carbon Mobility Blueprint & the National Energy Transition Roadmap. Promising progress is already underway: Malacca has secured over RM1 billion in EV hub investments, positioning the state as a key production centre, while EV sales in May 2025 surged by 69.3%.
To fully grasp this progress in transition, we’ve taken a deep dive into the evolving EV landscape in Malaysia to understand how adoption is taking shape.
Car Ownership in Malaysia
There is no denying that for most Malaysians, the primary mode of transportation is by car. Our findings show a high car ownership rate of 89% among Malaysians. The majority still own traditional petrol or diesel-powered vehicles, while EV owners represent a smaller but growing segment. Notably, between Q4’2024 and Q1’2025, overall car ownership has risen. It’s interesting to see EVs experiencing a significant 13% rise during this period.
This upswing in EV adoption goes beyond hype and reflects concrete market shifts, such as the growing number of available models and providers, both local and international. A clear example is the locally produced Proton e.MAS 7, which held its position as the best-selling EV in Malaysia for three consecutive months, with over 1,738 units registered in Q1. From the international front, China-based brands such as BYD and GWM have made inroads, with a total of 11 Chinese EV brands now available in Malaysia and counting. This paints an optimistic picture for EV supply and adoption in the years ahead.
Profiling existing EV owners reveals an average age of 37 years and a monthly income of approximately RM11,114.01. Most of these users are located within the Klang Valley, where EV infrastructure is more accessible and where brand presence is strongest. This demographic is largely composed of PMEBs (Professionals, Managers, Executives, and Businessmen), indicating that income level and awareness play key roles in early EV adoption.
To broaden the user base, it is crucial for related parties to continue educating, promoting, and incentivising the adoption of EVs among a wider range of income and occupational groups in different areas of the country.
Looking ahead, we also explored the purchase intentions of Malaysians in relation to car types over the next 12 months. Car purchase intentions have increased across the board from Q4’2024 to Q1’2025. Traditional vehicles still dominate with a 3% increase from 34% to 37%.
Despite that, there is a broader perspective to consider. Let’s look at the combined intention to purchase any form of EV, be it Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs), or Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs); it has increased by 5% over the same period. This reflects a growing openness towards EV alternatives and signals a shift from scepticism to interest in environmentally friendly transportation options.
Coming to those who intend to purchase EVs, they are not drastically different from current owners. The average age among this group is 35 years, with an average monthly income of RM9,096.62. Again, the Klang Valley region accounts for the largest share, and PMEBs continue to lead the interest.
However, it’s worth noting that this intender group includes individuals from slightly lower income brackets compared to current owners. This underscores the importance of affordability and financial incentives in driving further adoption. Government support through subsidy programmes or tax exemptions could play a pivotal role in bridging the gap and making EVs accessible to a broader demographic. Noteworthy, having a local EV assembly plan by the end of 2025 may be able to help move forward to bringing EVs to the lower-income group.
Encouragingly, a deeper dive into our study reveals that Malaysians’ EV awareness rose from 93% in Q4’2024 to 99% in Q1’2025, and familiarity jumped from 52% to 69% within the same period. This increase reflects governmental and commercial ongoing efforts to promote a greener automotive ecosystem, a crucial step in aligning national goals such as net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
As awareness grows, the next steps are to educate and build trust in EV technology. This involves communicating the value propositions of EVs that are beyond sustainability, such as performance, cost savings, and technological innovation.
Moving on, Malaysians’ attitudes towards EV adoption have demonstrated a steady and promising shift. While the proportion of EV preferers remained relatively stable at 45% in Q4’2024 and 44% in Q1’2025, there has been a notable increase in EV considerers, rising from 66% to 73% within the same period. Simultaneously, the proportion of rejectors, those who will never consider EVs, has declined from 14% to just 8%.
This trend suggests that while firm preference has yet to accelerate, curiosity and openness towards EV adoption is growing. To convert considerers into preferers, relevant parties must go beyond raising awareness and understand what influences considerers’ and rejectors’ perception. A good example is how the government has committed to installing 10,000 EV charging stations by the end of 2025 to upgrade EV infrastructure. More similar trust-building measures must be implemented to dismantle barriers and instil confidence, such as transparent communication of EV benefits, accessible financing solutions, and real-world testimonials from current users.
Conclusion
Overall, the EV market in Malaysia shows strong potential through encouraging trends in ownership, intention, and awareness. To convert consumers into loyal EV users, ongoing engagement through education, narrative, and the delivery of real value is warranted.
At Oppotus, we help brands navigate these shifts by delivering data-driven insights and strategic narratives. Whether you’re in the automotive industry or another sector, connect with us today to build a brand voice that drives action and adoption or drop us an email at theteam@oppotus.com
