Malaysia Overtakes Thailand in New Vehicle Sales
THAILAND REPORT
Rankings of new vehicle sales in Southeast Asia are shifting, with Malaysia overtaking Thailand to take second place in 2023. The Philippines overtook Vietnam to take fourth place. EV sales continue to grow across the region, particularly in Thailand.
New vehicle sales in six major Southeast Asian countries, including Indonesia and Thailand, totaled 3.34 million units in 2023, down 2% from the previous year. This was the first decline in three years. Rising interest rates weighed on the market. In Southeast Asia, customers with low equity often buy cars with car loans, which was affected by higher lending rates and stricter underwriting.
Despite the headwinds, sales increased in Malaysia and the Philippines. Sales in Malaysia rose 11% to 790,000 units, a record high, and the country became the second largest market in the region for the first time. The introduction of sales tax exemptions for domestically produced vehicles as part of an economic stimulus package provided a boost.



