Malaysian electric vehicle sales overtake hybrids as market shifts

Proton's e.MAS models help double EV sales as automakers raise 2026 industry forecast

Proton's e.MAS 5 is displayed at its launch event in Malaysia. The model has helped drive a surge in EV sales that saw electric vehicles overtake hybrids in the first half of 2026. (Photo by Ahmad Mustakim)

KUALA LUMPUR -- Sales of electric vehicles (EVs) in Malaysia more than doubled in the first half of 2026, overtaking hybrids for the first time and helping drive a sharp increase in demand for electrified cars, prompting a rise in the local auto industry's full-year forecast.