Malaysia’s EV registrations hit record in November, Tesla leads

EV registrations in Malaysia reached a record high in November as buyers rushed to purchase before tax exemptions expire at the end of 2025.

Official data showed 5,417 new EVs registered in November, up 200% year-on-year, according to the Malaysian Road Transport Department.

Tesla’s Model Y led with 810 registrations, narrowly ahead of Proton’s e.MAS 7, which had 786.

Malaysia’s government announced in October that tax holidays for imported EVs, in place since 2022, will end after December 31, 2025.

From 2026, buyers of imported EVs will pay excise and import duties, raising prices by about 30%, according to sales advisers.

Locally manufactured EVs, such as Proton’s e.MAS 5, will continue to be exempt from these taxes until the end of 2027.

By November 30, Malaysia recorded 36,690 EV registrations for 2025, with the full-year total expected to exceed 40,000.

EVs currently account for 4% of total vehicle sales in the country.

🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

November’s year-on-year spike came from buyers moving before the December 31, 2025 deadline for CBU (completely built up, or fully imported) EV tax exemptions 1.
Imported EVs like Tesla Model Y could get about 30% dearer once excise and import duties return in 2026 2.
Locally assembled models (CKD, or completely knocked down) such as Proton’s e.MAS 5 avoid the tax hit through 2027 1.
Brands that stick with CBU will raise prices as duties return in 2026 unless they move to local assembly.
The Malaysian Automotive Association warned a sudden cutoff could replay the hybrid slump about 15 years ago, when sales fell until local assembly grew 3.

Malaysia’s EV registrations are set to exceed 40,000 in 2025 and had reached 36,690 by November 30 1.
The government expects at least 400,000 electrified vehicles (xEVs) by 2030, yet about 30 Charge Point Operators are active, while Gentari (Petronas’ clean energy arm) and TNB (national utility Tenaga Nasional Berhad) invested RM76 million by June 2024 4.
2025 tenders cover EV charging consultancy, station leasing, plus system operation in Sarawak, Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and other sites 5.
Charging software and payment platform providers can plug into the government-approved e-Mobility Service Platform, a one-stop app that integrates networks nationwide 6.
Installers get a 100% Investment Tax Allowance for 5 years, while makers of EV charging gear receive full income tax exemption through 2032 4.