Malaysia overtakes Thailand as ASEAN's second-biggest auto market

Sales tax exemptions boost demand for national cars Perodua and Proton

20240514 Toyota dealer office near Kuala Lumpur

A Toyota dealership in Petaling Jaya, near Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia's car sales reached nearly 800,000 in 2023. (Photo by Norman Goh)

ATSUSHI TOMIYAMA and NORMAN GOH, Nikkei staff writers

TOKYO/KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysia has overtaken Thailand to become Southeast Asia's second-largest auto market, after Indonesia, a major shift in a region that has become a key battleground for Asian automakers.

Nikkei Asia compiled sales data released by industry groups in those three countries plus the Philippines and Vietnam and found that Malaysia's sales figures, which had been third for a long time, topped Thailand's for three consecutive quarters through January-March 2024.

Sponsored Content

About Sponsored ContentThis content was commissioned by Nikkei's Global Business Bureau.