Malaysia Car Sales January 2026 Jump 28.7% as Passenger Vehicles Lead Growth

Malaysia Car Sales Surge 28.7% in January 2026

Malaysia car sales recorded a strong start to 2026, reflecting a sharp year-on-year expansion despite seasonal disruptions. According to data released by the Malaysian Automotive Association, total industry volume reached 64,298 units in January, marking a 28.7% increase compared to the same month in 2025. The growth was largely driven by higher passenger vehicles sales, while commercial vehicles sales also posted gains. However, despite the annual rise, monthly performance declined from December?s record high due to holiday-related factors.

Passenger Vehicles Sales Drive Overall Growth

Passenger vehicles sales climbed 29.8% year-on-year to 60,369 units, forming the bulk of Malaysia car sales in January. The passenger segment continued to dominate total industry volume, reflecting sustained consumer demand at the start of the year.
Commercial vehicles sales increased 14.3% year-on-year to 3,929 units. Although smaller in volume compared to passenger vehicles sales, the commercial segment maintained steady expansion and contributed positively to overall Malaysia car sales performance.

Segment	January 2026 Units	Year-on-Year Growth
Passenger Vehicles	60,369	+29.8%
Commercial Vehicles	3,929	+14.3%
Total Industry Volume	64,298	+28.7%

Malaysia Car Production Also Records Annual Increase

Malaysia car production reached 60,866 units in January, representing a 7.0% increase compared to the previous year. The rise in Malaysia car production aligned with the improvement in Malaysia car sales, indicating stable manufacturing activity at the beginning of 2026.
The Malaysian Automotive Association indicated that although January performance was strong on an annual basis, total Malaysia car sales fell 29% compared to the previous month?s record high. This decline was primarily influenced by the Lunar New Year holiday period, which affected working days and delivery schedules.

February Outlook Remains Cautious

The Malaysian Automotive Association expects sales and Malaysia car production to moderate in February due to the shorter working month caused by the Chinese New Year holidays. Reduced operating days are likely to impact both showroom traffic and manufacturing output.
While the year has started positively for Malaysia car sales, near-term performance will depend on post-holiday demand recovery and normalization of production schedules across the market.