EV momentum grows with 43,572 battery EVs on Malaysian roads

by HIDAYATH HISHAM

MALAYSIA’S electric vehicle (EV) sector continues to gain traction, with more than 43,000 battery electric vehicles (BEVs) now operating across the country.

Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz (picture) said the government’s efforts to grow the EV ecosystem have shown positive results, supported by uptake incentives, infrastructure development and local production milestones.

“I am even prouder to highlight that EV’s contribution to the total industry volume (TIV) has grown steadily these last couple of years,” he said at the Malaysia Autoshow 2025 today.

He said Malaysia currently has a total of 43,572 BEVs on the road, with 9,880 electric and hybrid vehicles sold in the first quarter of 2025 (1Q25) alone.

One of the biggest efforts supporting EV adoption is the MARiiCAS E-bike Programme, which provides a RM2,400 rebate for eligible applicants earning below RM120,000 per year.

From 2024 to 1Q25, a total of 8,658 applications have been approved, amounting to RM20.8 million in rebates.

Additionally, Tengku Zafrul said the government is also working to strengthen EV infrastructure nationwide.

As of March 31, 2025, a total of 4,161 EV charging stations have been installed — comprising 2,857 alternating current (AC) chargers and 1,304 direct current (DC) chargers.

The government remains committed to reaching its target of 10,000 EV charging stations by the end of this year, supported by industry players such as Gentari.

Tengku Zafrul also confirmed that Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua) has completed the development of its first EV model, with testing already underway since April 24, 2025.

“In fact, several Malaysian car enthusiasts have apparently spotted Perodua’s first eMO (Electric Motion Online) being tested on Malaysia roads a couple of days ago, just five months after the eMO-II concept was shown at another motor show.

“Images of the hatchback have surfaced all over social media, camouflaged in a black-and-white doodle design,” he said.