INTERACTIVE: Meet Malaysia’s favourite cars
PETALING JAYA: Malaysians with a passion for cars will likely have a favourite model they dream of owning, but when it comes to what they actually drive, which are the ones they truly love the most?

Data available on the government’s data.gov.my website offers some insights, at least in terms of car popularity over the past two decades.

The figures show car sales, registrations and production in the country from year 2000 up to Aug 31, 2023.

Here’s what the numbers show:

All hail the king

When it comes to the total number of cars sold over the past two decades, none can beat the Perodua Myvi with 1,388,921 units.

Making its appearance in 2005, the Myvi has topped the annual sales chart for passenger cars in Malaysia for nine years.

Despite its dominance, there have been years when two other Perodua models – the Axia and Bezza - sold more than the Myvi.

The Axia, which entered the market in 2014, wrested the number one spot from the Myvi in 2015, 2016, and 2018.

Last year, the Myvi was again relegated to number two, its pole position this time usurped by the Bezza.

There were 56,735 registrations for the Bezza for 2023 (up to Aug 31), compared to the Myvi at 45,014 units.

Enduring Saga

The second highest-selling car since the year 2000 is the Proton Saga with 825,693 units sold.

The first model from national carmaker Proton, the Saga has had a special place in the hearts of many Malaysians since its release in 1985.

Evergreen Axia

Entering the market in 2014, the Perodua Axia has managed to sell 627,454 units as at Aug 31 last year, putting it third behind the Myvi and Proton Saga.

It has been in the top 3 best-selling model every year since 2015.

The following are the top 20 car models in terms of cumulative registrations from the year 2000:

In the lead

Since 2000, 17 car manufacturers have made the annual top 10 list of top car companies by total car registrations.

Of the 17, four are local (Proton, Perodua, Naza and Inokom); seven are Japanese (Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Suzuki and Isuzu); three are European (BMW, Mercedes and Volkswagen); two are South Korean (Kia and Hyundai) and one is American (Ford).

Historic high

Figures from the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) show a strong surge in car sales after Covid-19 eased before hitting a record high last year:

On the global stage

The International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers’ data for 2023 ranks Malaysia seventh among 13 member countries in the Asia-Oceania region in terms of passenger car production:

Is the future electric?

Hybrid and full electric vehicles are fast growing in popularity in many markets and Malaysia is no exception.

The MAA’s figures show a 68% increase in the sales of both types of vehicles to 38,055 units in 2023 compared to 22,619 the year before.
A deep dive into the best selling cars each year since 2000