Gitnux/Report 2026

Malaysia Automotive Industry Statistics

Malaysia’s auto sector supported 750,000 jobs and paid an average RM3,200 monthly wage in 2022 while women made up 35% of the workforce and training through MIM helped upskill 50,000 workers, but the real jolt is how quickly EV plans are reshaping hiring and investment. From exports that hit RM20.5 billion for 372,000 vehicles to R&D personnel rising to 18,000 and a 2023 surge of 20,000 new jobs, this page connects factory output, talent, and cross border demand in one clear Malaysian snapshot.
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Malaysia Automotive Industry Statistics
Rachel SvenssonWritten by Rachel Svensson·Edited by Jonathan Hale·Fact-checked by Peter Sandoval
Last verified Jun 18, 2026
Verified via a 4-step process
01Source

Data aggregated from peer-reviewed journals, government agencies, and professional bodies with disclosed methodology and sample sizes.

02Verify

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Figures are graded by cross-model consensus. Statistics failing independent corroboration are excluded regardless of how widely cited.

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Next review Dec 2026
Malaysia’s automotive sector sold 666,664 vehicles in 2022, up 10.4% from the previous year. It also supported 750,000 jobs directly and indirectly, and component supply chains added another 500,000 roles through local SMEs. Export performance reinforced the growth, with 372,000 vehicles shipped worth RM20.5 billion in 2022.

Key Takeaways

  • 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
  • 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 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
  • 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’s automotive sector expanded in 2022 with 543,891 vehicles produced, 666,664 sold, and rising EV investment.

Related reading

01 · Category

Employment and Human Capital20 stats

01
The automotive sector employed 750,000 workers directly and indirectly in 2022
02
Perodua workforce stood at 15,000 employees across 5 plants in 2022
03
Proton employed 12,500 staff in 2022, with 20% in R&D roles
04
Automotive component SMEs provided 500,000 jobs in 2022
05
Female participation in industry reached 35% or 262,500 workers in 2022
06
Skills training programs upskilled 50,000 workers via MIM in 2022
07
Average monthly wage in auto manufacturing was RM3,200 in 2022
08
Proton's apprenticeship program trained 2,000 youths in 2022
09
Total R&D personnel in industry numbered 18,000 in 2022
10
Vendor development programs supported 1,200 SMEs employing 300,000 in 2022
11
In 2023, sector added 20,000 new jobs due to EV shift
12
Motorcycle industry employed 120,000 workers in assembly and parts
13
Unemployment rate in auto sector was 2.1% in 2022, below national 3.8%
14
Perodua's female engineers numbered 1,500 in 2022, up 15%
15
Automation reduced manual jobs by 5% but created 10,000 tech roles in 2022
16
Graduate intake in auto firms was 8,000 annually in 2022
17
In 2021, employment dipped to 700,000 due to lockdowns
18
Safety training covered 90% of workforce, reducing accidents 12% in 2022
19
Expatriate engineers totaled 2,500 in industry for tech transfer in 2022
20
Gig economy mechanics grew to 50,000 servicing aftermarket in 2022
Interpretation

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.

02 · Category

Export Performance20 stats

01
Malaysia exported 372,000 vehicles in 2022, valued at RM20.5 billion, a 20% increase YoY
02
Perodua exports grew to 150,000 units in 2022, mainly to UK and ASEAN
03
Proton exported 45,000 vehicles in 2022, with X50 to 20 markets
04
Automotive parts exports reached RM58 billion in 2022, up 15%
05
UK market received 80,000 Perodua units from Malaysia in 2022
06
Indonesia imported 25,000 Proton vehicles from Malaysia in 2022
07
Total CKD exports were 220,000 units valued at RM12 billion in 2022
08
Motorcycle exports hit 350,000 units in 2022 to ASEAN neighbors
09
Brunei imported 15,000 vehicles from Malaysia in 2022, mostly Perodua
10
Saudi Arabia received 10,000 Proton Saga units in 2022
11
Parts exports to Thailand grew 18% to RM8 billion in 2022
12
In 2023 H1, vehicle exports rose 12% to 200,000 units
13
Australia imported 12,000 Malaysian-made vehicles in 2022
14
CBU exports of Proton X70 reached 5,000 units to Pakistan in 2022
15
Automotive wire harness exports valued RM4.5 billion in 2022 to Japan
16
In 2021, exports totaled 310,000 units despite global chip shortage
17
South Africa market took 8,000 Perodua units in 2022
18
Engine exports from Malaysia hit 50,000 units in 2022 for global OEMs
19
EV component exports began with RM500 million in 2022 to China
20
Fiji and Pacific islands received 3,000 commercial vehicles in 2022
Interpretation

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.

03 · Category

Investments and R&D20 stats

01
Automotive industry FDI inflows reached RM8.5 billion in 2022
02
Proton-Geely JV invested RM3 billion in Tanjung Malim expansion by 2022
03
Perodua-Daihatsu capex was RM1.2 billion for new models in 2022
04
EV ecosystem investments totaled RM4 billion approved in 2022
05
R&D expenditure by industry hit RM2.1 billion in 2022, 1.2% of sales
06
Mercedes-Benz invested RM500 million in Pekan plant upgrade in 2022
07
Local vendor equity participation rose to 60% with RM1.5B funding in 2022
08
Toyota's hybrid tech transfer investment was RM800 million cumulative to 2022
09
In 2023, 20 EV projects approved with RM12B investment
10
Proton R&D center in Shanghai got RM200 million boost in 2022
11
Component sector attracted RM2.8 billion FDI from Japan in 2022
12
Patent filings in auto tech rose 18% to 450 in 2022
13
Sime Darby Motors invested RM400 million in dealership network in 2022
14
In 2021, total investments were RM7.2 billion amid recovery
15
Battery Gigafactory by Carsem approved at RM5 billion in 2022
16
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia auto R&D grants totaled RM150 million in 2022
17
Bosch Malaysia expanded with RM300 million for ADAS tech in 2022
18
Startup funding in auto tech reached RM500 million via Cradle Fund in 2022
19
Continental Tires new plant investment RM250 million in Shah Alam 2022
20
Total green tech investments in auto sector RM1.8 billion in 2022
Interpretation

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.

More related reading

04 · Category

Production Statistics24 stats

01
In 2022, Malaysia's total vehicle production reached 543,891 units, marking a 5.2% increase from 2021
02
Perodua produced 254,300 passenger cars in 2022, representing 52% of the national total production
03
Proton's vehicle production in 2022 stood at 140,200 units, a 12% year-on-year growth driven by new models like the X50
04
Commercial vehicle production in Malaysia reached 38,500 units in 2022, up 8% from the previous year
05
In Q4 2022, total industry production was 152,000 units, with passenger cars dominating at 78%
06
Malaysia's automotive component production value exceeded RM45 billion in 2022, supporting OEM assembly lines
07
Perodua's Myvi model led production with 120,000 units assembled in 2022 across its plants in Rawang and Hicom
08
Proton's Tanjung Malim plant achieved 85% capacity utilization in 2022, producing 95,000 SUVs
09
Motorcycle production in Malaysia hit 1.2 million units in 2022, led by Modenas with 450,000 units
10
Heavy truck production by Isuzu HICOM reached 12,500 units in 2022, focusing on ASEAN specs
11
In 2021, total vehicle production was 517,500 units, with a recovery post-COVID dip
12
Automotive parts manufacturing output grew 7.3% to RM42.8 billion in 2021
13
Proton's X70 SUV production peaked at 25,000 units monthly in late 2022
14
Malaysia's EV production initiated with 1,000 units of Chery Omoda 5 in 2023 pilot
15
Total CKD kit assembly for exports reached 180,000 units in 2022
16
Perodua's engine plant in Kubang Pasu produced 300,000 engines in 2022
17
In 2023 H1, production surged 15% to 290,000 units amid pent-up demand
18
Stamping and body fabrication output for Proton was 150,000 sets in 2022
19
Malaysia produced 25,000 electric two-wheelers in 2022 via local firms like Estrada
20
Bus chassis production by Hino Motors Malaysia hit 3,200 units in 2022
21
In 2020, production dropped to 372,000 units due to pandemic lockdowns
22
Paint shop throughput at Perodua plants exceeded 250,000 vehicles in 2022
23
Proton's gearbox assembly line produced 120,000 units in 2022 for Xseries
24
Component localization rate reached 75% for passenger cars in 2022
Interpretation

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.

05 · Category

Sales and Domestic Market23 stats

01
Malaysia's total vehicle sales in 2022 reached 666,664 units, a 10.4% increase from 2021
02
Perodua captured 40.2% market share with 268,000 units sold domestically in 2022
03
Proton sold 152,300 vehicles in 2022, achieving 22.8% market share
04
Toyota sold 90,500 units in Malaysia in 2022, holding 13.6% market share
05
Honda Malaysia recorded 72,000 unit sales in 2022, focusing on sedans and SUVs
06
In December 2022, monthly sales peaked at 65,000 units industry-wide
07
Passenger car sales dominated with 82% of total at 547,000 units in 2022
08
Perodua Myvi was the best-seller with 73,000 units sold in 2022
09
Proton Saga sold 50,600 units, retaining top sedan spot in 2022
10
Commercial vehicle sales grew 12% to 110,000 units in 2022
11
Motorcycle retail sales hit 1.5 million units in 2022, led by Yamaha
12
In 2023 Q1, TIV sales reached 180,000 units, up 5% YoY
13
Nissan sold 28,000 units in 2022, with Navara pickup leading at 12,000
14
Used car sales volume was 450,000 units in 2022 per JPJ data
15
Perodua Axia sales hit 45,000 units as entry-level favorite in 2022
16
Proton X50 SUV sold 40,000 units since launch through 2022
17
Hybrid vehicle sales rose 25% to 15,000 units in 2022
18
In 2021, TIV was 604,287 units, down slightly from pre-pandemic peaks
19
Suzuki Swift sales reached 22,000 units in 2022, boosting small car segment
20
Total industry volume share of national cars was 64% in 2022
21
EV sales in Malaysia were only 2,000 units in 2022, mostly imported
22
Pick-up truck sales totaled 35,000 units in 2022, led by Hilux
23
In Nov 2022, sales dipped to 52,000 units due to supply chain issues
Interpretation

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.
Reference

Cite This Report

This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.

APA
Rachel Svensson. (2026, February 13). Malaysia Automotive Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/malaysia-automotive-industry-statistics
MLA
Rachel Svensson. "Malaysia Automotive Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/malaysia-automotive-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Rachel Svensson. 2026. "Malaysia Automotive Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/malaysia-automotive-industry-statistics.

Sources & references

40 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level

maa.org.myperodua.com.myproton.commida.gov.mydosm.gov.mymscmalaysia.com.mymotosociety.com.myisuzuhicom.com.myoica.nethinomalaysia.com.mytoyota.com.myhonda.com.mynissan.com.myjpj.gov.mysuzuki.com.myperodua.co.ukproton.co.idmit.gov.myfcai.com.aunaamsa.netdaihatsu.com.mymat.gov.mysme.gov.mymim.org.mymastic.gov.mymhr.gov.mymohe.gov.myjkkp.gov.myimi.gov.mymiti.gov.mymercedes-benz.com.myjetro.go.jpmyipo.gov.mysimedarby.comcarsem.comutm.mybosch.com.mycradle.com.myconti.com.mygreeninvest.gov.my