Nation Thailand
Malaysia EV rules prompt Chinese carmakers to adjust market plans
Compiled by KHAO Editorial — aggregated from 1 outlet. See llms.txt for citation guidance.
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Malaysia has begun enforcing new measures to control imports of completely built-up ( CBU ) electric vehicles ( EVs ) since July 1, forcing Chinese EV makers such as BYD and several other Chinese brands to adjust their market strategies after many popular models became ineligible for import under the new criteria.
Key facts
- The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry ( MITI ) requires CBU EVs imported for sale in the country to have a CIF (cost, insurance and freight) value of at least 200,000 ringgit (around THB1.64 million) and motor output of no less
- Vehicles must be priced at no less than 100,000 ringgit (around THB820,000), and at least 80% of production capacity must be exported, while domestic sales must not exceed 20%.
- Data from the Road Transport Department Malaysia ( JPJ ) showed that in 2025, new-energy vehicles from Chinese manufacturers, excluding Proton, in which Geely holds a stake, accounted for around 60% of Malaysia’s total new-energy vehicle
- The report said the conditions had stalled BYD’s completely knocked-down ( CKD ) assembly plant project in Tanjung Malim, Perak, as analysts believed exporting 80% of output would be difficult because the company already has major
- Because these projects use existing factory capacity, they are not subject to the requirement to export 80% of production capacity.
- Although several manufacturers have tried to avoid the restrictions by setting up vehicle assembly plants in Malaysia, the government has also introduced new conditions for investment projects approved after Monday (September 1, 2025).
Summary
The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry ( MITI ) requires CBU EVs imported for sale in the country to have a CIF (cost, insurance and freight) value of at least 200,000 ringgit (around THB1.64 million) and motor output of no less than 180 kilowatts, or around 241 horsepower.
Once taxes, operating costs and distributors’ margins are included, the actual retail prices of vehicles meeting the criteria are likely to be far above 200,000 ringgit, leaving the entry-level and mid-range EV market almost entirely excluded from imports.