Car ownership in Malaysia is a rite of passage, a passion, and an outright necessity.
From the poorly planned city streets to the lagging public transport infrastructure, getting around Malaysia is not easy.
To add to this cocktail of conundrums, we also have to contend with high car prices due to a weak ringgit and a decades-old protectionist tax policy that only benefits cronies.
Despite being caught in a rock and a hard place, Malaysians have placed 2nd in Asia for highest car ownership rates from 2015 to 2020!
This is based on data from the International Organisation of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA), which releases car ownership data in the Asian continent calculated from the number of registered cars per 1000 people, including both passenger and commercial vehicles.
According to the data, we’re second only to Japan on that list.
In 2024, a Rakuten Insight survey revealed that 73% of Malaysians own a car, highlighting just how deeply rooted personal vehicle ownership is in our lifestyle.
And the trend shows no signs of slowing. As of February 2025, data from data.gov.my showed that 113,136 new private vehicles had already been registered this year.
Local favourites Perodua and Proton led the pack, with 54,627 and 20,756 units respectively. Toyota (15,407) and Honda (10,866) followed closely behind.
According to Associate Professor Dr. Law Teik Hua from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), the surge in car ownership is fuelled by relatively low petrol prices and affordable local car options, which make owning a car more accessible to the average Malaysian.
“People aren’t buying cars just because they want to. They’re buying them because they feel like they have to,” he told Harian Metro.
“When the buses or trains don’t take you where you need to go, driving becomes the only realistic choice,” Dr. Law pointed out.
And with most job opportunities concentrated in city centres, it’s no wonder so many people are stuck in the same traffic at the same time every single day.
Dr. Law believes the key is to improve public transport and make it a real alternative, not just a backup plan.
Expanding bus, MRT, and LRT coverage to reach more areas would give people better options and reduce dependence on private vehicles,” he said.
He also highlighted the need to upgrade road systems, solve bottleneck issues, and promote carpooling, which could help reduce the number of vehicles on the road.
Another idea is to use smart traffic light systems that adjust in real time based on traffic flow. This could improve both safety and efficiency.
