From roaring production lines to record-breaking sales, Malaysia's automotive industry in 2022 wasn't just recovering—it was accelerating at full throttle, proving its resilience and ambition on both the domestic and global stage.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, Malaysia's total vehicle production reached 543,891 units, marking a 5.2% increase from 2021
- Perodua produced 254,300 passenger cars in 2022, representing 52% of the national total production
- Proton's vehicle production in 2022 stood at 140,200 units, a 12% year-on-year growth driven by new models like the X50
- Malaysia's total vehicle sales in 2022 reached 666,664 units, a 10.4% increase from 2021
- Perodua captured 40.2% market share with 268,000 units sold domestically in 2022
- Proton sold 152,300 vehicles in 2022, achieving 22.8% market share
- Malaysia exported 372,000 vehicles in 2022, valued at RM20.5 billion, a 20% increase YoY
- Perodua exports grew to 150,000 units in 2022, mainly to UK and ASEAN
- Proton exported 45,000 vehicles in 2022, with X50 to 20 markets
- The automotive sector employed 750,000 workers directly and indirectly in 2022
- Perodua workforce stood at 15,000 employees across 5 plants in 2022
- Proton employed 12,500 staff in 2022, with 20% in R&D roles
- Automotive industry FDI inflows reached RM8.5 billion in 2022
- Proton-Geely JV invested RM3 billion in Tanjung Malim expansion by 2022
- Perodua-Daihatsu capex was RM1.2 billion for new models in 2022
Malaysia's auto industry grew in 2022 with rising production, sales, and exports.
Employment and Human Capital
- The automotive sector employed 750,000 workers directly and indirectly in 2022
- Perodua workforce stood at 15,000 employees across 5 plants in 2022
- Proton employed 12,500 staff in 2022, with 20% in R&D roles
- Automotive component SMEs provided 500,000 jobs in 2022
- Female participation in industry reached 35% or 262,500 workers in 2022
- Skills training programs upskilled 50,000 workers via MIM in 2022
- Average monthly wage in auto manufacturing was RM3,200 in 2022
- Proton's apprenticeship program trained 2,000 youths in 2022
- Total R&D personnel in industry numbered 18,000 in 2022
- Vendor development programs supported 1,200 SMEs employing 300,000 in 2022
- In 2023, sector added 20,000 new jobs due to EV shift
- Motorcycle industry employed 120,000 workers in assembly and parts
- Unemployment rate in auto sector was 2.1% in 2022, below national 3.8%
- Perodua's female engineers numbered 1,500 in 2022, up 15%
- Automation reduced manual jobs by 5% but created 10,000 tech roles in 2022
- Graduate intake in auto firms was 8,000 annually in 2022
- In 2021, employment dipped to 700,000 due to lockdowns
- Safety training covered 90% of workforce, reducing accidents 12% in 2022
- Expatriate engineers totaled 2,500 in industry for tech transfer in 2022
- Gig economy mechanics grew to 50,000 servicing aftermarket in 2022
Employment and Human Capital Interpretation
Malaysia's automotive industry is masterfully retooling its massive workforce of three-quarters of a million people, proving you can teach an old sector new tricks—and keep the seats warm—by shifting gears toward tech, training, and diversity without stalling the engine of employment.
Export Performance
- Malaysia exported 372,000 vehicles in 2022, valued at RM20.5 billion, a 20% increase YoY
- Perodua exports grew to 150,000 units in 2022, mainly to UK and ASEAN
- Proton exported 45,000 vehicles in 2022, with X50 to 20 markets
- Automotive parts exports reached RM58 billion in 2022, up 15%
- UK market received 80,000 Perodua units from Malaysia in 2022
- Indonesia imported 25,000 Proton vehicles from Malaysia in 2022
- Total CKD exports were 220,000 units valued at RM12 billion in 2022
- Motorcycle exports hit 350,000 units in 2022 to ASEAN neighbors
- Brunei imported 15,000 vehicles from Malaysia in 2022, mostly Perodua
- Saudi Arabia received 10,000 Proton Saga units in 2022
- Parts exports to Thailand grew 18% to RM8 billion in 2022
- In 2023 H1, vehicle exports rose 12% to 200,000 units
- Australia imported 12,000 Malaysian-made vehicles in 2022
- CBU exports of Proton X70 reached 5,000 units to Pakistan in 2022
- Automotive wire harness exports valued RM4.5 billion in 2022 to Japan
- In 2021, exports totaled 310,000 units despite global chip shortage
- South Africa market took 8,000 Perodua units in 2022
- Engine exports from Malaysia hit 50,000 units in 2022 for global OEMs
- EV component exports began with RM500 million in 2022 to China
- Fiji and Pacific islands received 3,000 commercial vehicles in 2022
Export Performance Interpretation
While British roads are being charmingly colonized by Perodua, Proton is planting flags from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia, and a RM58 billion tidal wave of parts proves Malaysia's automotive industry is no longer just assembling cars but masterfully exporting its engineering DNA across the globe.
Investments and R&D
- Automotive industry FDI inflows reached RM8.5 billion in 2022
- Proton-Geely JV invested RM3 billion in Tanjung Malim expansion by 2022
- Perodua-Daihatsu capex was RM1.2 billion for new models in 2022
- EV ecosystem investments totaled RM4 billion approved in 2022
- R&D expenditure by industry hit RM2.1 billion in 2022, 1.2% of sales
- Mercedes-Benz invested RM500 million in Pekan plant upgrade in 2022
- Local vendor equity participation rose to 60% with RM1.5B funding in 2022
- Toyota's hybrid tech transfer investment was RM800 million cumulative to 2022
- In 2023, 20 EV projects approved with RM12B investment
- Proton R&D center in Shanghai got RM200 million boost in 2022
- Component sector attracted RM2.8 billion FDI from Japan in 2022
- Patent filings in auto tech rose 18% to 450 in 2022
- Sime Darby Motors invested RM400 million in dealership network in 2022
- In 2021, total investments were RM7.2 billion amid recovery
- Battery Gigafactory by Carsem approved at RM5 billion in 2022
- Universiti Teknologi Malaysia auto R&D grants totaled RM150 million in 2022
- Bosch Malaysia expanded with RM300 million for ADAS tech in 2022
- Startup funding in auto tech reached RM500 million via Cradle Fund in 2022
- Continental Tires new plant investment RM250 million in Shah Alam 2022
- Total green tech investments in auto sector RM1.8 billion in 2022
Investments and R&D Interpretation
While the investments pouring into Malaysia's automotive sector, from the gigafactories to the R&D labs, are certainly electrifying, the true test of this RM50-billion-plus jolt will be whether it shifts the industry from a high-volume assembly line into a high-value innovation hub.
Production Statistics
- In 2022, Malaysia's total vehicle production reached 543,891 units, marking a 5.2% increase from 2021
- Perodua produced 254,300 passenger cars in 2022, representing 52% of the national total production
- Proton's vehicle production in 2022 stood at 140,200 units, a 12% year-on-year growth driven by new models like the X50
- Commercial vehicle production in Malaysia reached 38,500 units in 2022, up 8% from the previous year
- In Q4 2022, total industry production was 152,000 units, with passenger cars dominating at 78%
- Malaysia's automotive component production value exceeded RM45 billion in 2022, supporting OEM assembly lines
- Perodua's Myvi model led production with 120,000 units assembled in 2022 across its plants in Rawang and Hicom
- Proton's Tanjung Malim plant achieved 85% capacity utilization in 2022, producing 95,000 SUVs
- Motorcycle production in Malaysia hit 1.2 million units in 2022, led by Modenas with 450,000 units
- Heavy truck production by Isuzu HICOM reached 12,500 units in 2022, focusing on ASEAN specs
- In 2021, total vehicle production was 517,500 units, with a recovery post-COVID dip
- Automotive parts manufacturing output grew 7.3% to RM42.8 billion in 2021
- Proton's X70 SUV production peaked at 25,000 units monthly in late 2022
- Malaysia's EV production initiated with 1,000 units of Chery Omoda 5 in 2023 pilot
- Total CKD kit assembly for exports reached 180,000 units in 2022
- Perodua's engine plant in Kubang Pasu produced 300,000 engines in 2022
- In 2023 H1, production surged 15% to 290,000 units amid pent-up demand
- Stamping and body fabrication output for Proton was 150,000 sets in 2022
- Malaysia produced 25,000 electric two-wheelers in 2022 via local firms like Estrada
- Bus chassis production by Hino Motors Malaysia hit 3,200 units in 2022
- In 2020, production dropped to 372,000 units due to pandemic lockdowns
- Paint shop throughput at Perodua plants exceeded 250,000 vehicles in 2022
- Proton's gearbox assembly line produced 120,000 units in 2022 for Xseries
- Component localization rate reached 75% for passenger cars in 2022
Production Statistics Interpretation
Perodua and Proton, with a friendly but firm stranglehold on the market, drove Malaysia's auto industry past a half-million vehicles in 2022, proving the national engine is not just running but accelerating, even as it nervously eyes the EV exit ramp.
Sales and Domestic Market
- Malaysia's total vehicle sales in 2022 reached 666,664 units, a 10.4% increase from 2021
- Perodua captured 40.2% market share with 268,000 units sold domestically in 2022
- Proton sold 152,300 vehicles in 2022, achieving 22.8% market share
- Toyota sold 90,500 units in Malaysia in 2022, holding 13.6% market share
- Honda Malaysia recorded 72,000 unit sales in 2022, focusing on sedans and SUVs
- In December 2022, monthly sales peaked at 65,000 units industry-wide
- Passenger car sales dominated with 82% of total at 547,000 units in 2022
- Perodua Myvi was the best-seller with 73,000 units sold in 2022
- Proton Saga sold 50,600 units, retaining top sedan spot in 2022
- Commercial vehicle sales grew 12% to 110,000 units in 2022
- Motorcycle retail sales hit 1.5 million units in 2022, led by Yamaha
- In 2023 Q1, TIV sales reached 180,000 units, up 5% YoY
- Nissan sold 28,000 units in 2022, with Navara pickup leading at 12,000
- Used car sales volume was 450,000 units in 2022 per JPJ data
- Perodua Axia sales hit 45,000 units as entry-level favorite in 2022
- Proton X50 SUV sold 40,000 units since launch through 2022
- Hybrid vehicle sales rose 25% to 15,000 units in 2022
- In 2021, TIV was 604,287 units, down slightly from pre-pandemic peaks
- Suzuki Swift sales reached 22,000 units in 2022, boosting small car segment
- Total industry volume share of national cars was 64% in 2022
- EV sales in Malaysia were only 2,000 units in 2022, mostly imported
- Pick-up truck sales totaled 35,000 units in 2022, led by Hilux
- In Nov 2022, sales dipped to 52,000 units due to supply chain issues
Sales and Domestic Market Interpretation
Despite holding an enviable 64% market share together, the national champions Perodua and Proton are locked in a domestic duel for supremacy, while the rest of the industry races for the remaining slice of the pie, proving that in Malaysia's automotive revival, everyone is driving hard—except, it seems, for electric vehicles.
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