SNIPPETS

Effective 1 July 2026, the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) requires all CBU EV imports under the Franchise Approved Permit (AP) scheme to meet a minimum Declared Import Value of RM200,000 and a minimum motor output of 180 kW. This would disqualify many of the mid-range Chinese EVs retailing at RM150,000 to RM180,000, a sweet spot for the Malaysian EV market currently. Amidst the backlash, is MITI making a bad move for the country? Under the new measures, the retail price floor for...

Over the past two years, China’s auto manufacturers have cut prices and launched new models at lightning speed, expanding into overlapping segments in an attempt to drive sales growth. Rapid technological advancement and intensifying competition are making cars increasingly similar in China’s new energy vehicle (NEV) industry, raising questions about profitability and the ability of car makers to differentiate their products in a crowded market. As product life cycles shrink, profitability...

Robust vehicle sales in the first four months of 2026 has raised hopes that Malaysia’s automotive sector is heading for another strong year despite macroeconomic challenges. The Malaysia Automotive Association expects total industry volume (TIV) to ease 3.75% to 790,000 units this year from the record 820,752 units achieved in 2025 although recent sales performance suggests otherwise. Vehicle demand remains robust, supported by stable interest rates, easy access to financing, a resilient labour market...