Top 10 Best-Selling Electric Cars in Malaysia (2026)
Ranked by new battery-electric car registrations from January to August 2026, counted by us from the Road Transport Department's raw registration file. The Proton e.MAS 5 out-registered the next nine models combined.
This is a Data ranking. The order comes from our own count of JPJ's raw car registration file on data.gov.my, covering battery-electric cars registered from 1 January to 31 August 2026. Registrations are not the same as the delivery figures carmakers announce, so numbers can differ from press releases. Nothing here is buying or investment advice.
Quick answer
The Proton e.MAS 5 is Malaysia's best-selling electric car in 2026, with 17,837 new registrations from 1 January to 31 August 2026, according to Malaysia's Top Ten's count of the Road Transport Department (JPJ) registration file published on data.gov.my. That is 37.5% of all 47,508 battery-electric cars registered in the period, and more than the next nine models combined (19,382). The Proton e.MAS 7 is second with 4,004, followed by the BYD Atto 3 (3,027), Zeekr 7X (2,449) and iCaur V23 (2,133).
- Electric cars doubled: 47,508 battery-electric registrations from January to August 2026, up 103% from 23,396 a year earlier, lifting EVs from 4.2% to 8.4% of all new cars.
- August 2026 set a record of 8,833 EV registrations, 11.4% of the month's new cars, with the e.MAS 5 alone taking 54% of them.
- Proton holds 46% of Malaysia's EV market (21,841 registrations), almost three times BYD's 7,472.
- Six of the top ten come from Chinese brands (BYD, Zeekr and iCaur); the top ten together account for 78.3% of all EV registrations.
How this ranking was decided
This is a Data ranking. We downloaded JPJ's raw car registration file from data.gov.my on 5 October 2026 and counted every new registration recorded with fuel type "electric" (battery-electric cars only, so plug-in hybrids are excluded), by maker and model, from 1 January to 31 August 2026, the latest full month available. The metric, period and tie rule were fixed before counting. Year-on-year change compares the same eight months of 2025 from the same source. No editorial adjustment of positions.
Full details in How this ranking was produced below.
The ranking at a glance
| # | Name | EV registrations (Jan–Aug 2026) | Best for | Main advantage | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proton e.MAS 5 | 17,837 (37.5% of EVs) | First-time EV buyers who want an affordable city car with nationwide service. | Cheapest model in the top ten, from RM59,800 | Base Prime variant has a shorter 225 km range |
| 2 | Proton e.MAS 7 | 4,004 (8.4% of EVs) | Families who want a roomy electric SUV for about RM100,000. | Roomy mid-size electric SUV from RM103,800 | Electric version down 26.6% year on year |
| 3 | BYD Atto 3 | 3,027 (6.4% of EVs) | Buyers who want a proven compact electric SUV with a long local track record. | Best-selling EV outside Proton's range | Registrations halved in August 2026 |
| 4 | Zeekr 7X | 2,449 (5.2% of EVs) | Buyers who want a premium electric SUV below luxury-brand prices. | Best-selling premium EV in Malaysia | Fully imported, so prices rose in 2026 |
| 5 | iCaur V23 | 2,133 (4.5% of EVs) | Buyers who want a distinctive-looking electric SUV with all-wheel drive. | Strong first full year on sale | Registrations dipped during the switch to local assembly |
| 6 | Tesla Model Y | 1,978 (4.2% of EVs) | Buyers who value Tesla's software, charging network and resale demand. | Steady demand despite higher prices | Most expensive model in the top ten |
| 7 | Tesla Model 3 | 1,755 (3.7% of EVs) | Drivers who want an electric sedan with strong performance and range. | Up 57.3%, fastest growth among models sold in both years | Sales arrive in uneven shipment-driven spikes |
| 8 | BYD Sealion 7 | 1,456 (3.1% of EVs) | Buyers who want a sporty, long-range electric SUV. | New 2026 base variant with a 91.3 kWh battery | Down 41.1%, the biggest fall in the top ten |
| 9 | BYD Seal 6 | 1,326 (2.8% of EVs) | Families who want a practical electric sedan. | Strong first full year for a new model | Monthly registrations fell from May's peak |
| 10 | iCaur 03 | 1,254 (2.6% of EVs) | Buyers who want a rugged-looking compact electric SUV. | Steady monthly demand since local assembly began | Narrow lead over the BYD Atto 2 for tenth |
One car changed Malaysia's EV market
Malaysia registered 47,508 new battery-electric cars in the first eight months of 2026, twice as many as a year earlier. The reason is mostly one model. The Proton e.MAS 5, a five-seat hatchback launched in October 2025 at RM59,800 (RM56,800 after Proton's rebate), brought the price of a new EV down to that of a mid-range petrol car (paultan.org). In August 2026 it registered 4,770 units, 54% of every EV registered that month (paultan.org). Our count from JPJ's file matches paultan.org's published figures for nine of the top ten models; for the iCaur V23, paultan.org reports 2,173, a gap of under 2%.
Tax policy is shaping the rest of the table. Fully imported (CBU) EVs lost their import and excise duty exemption on 31 December 2025, while locally assembled (CKD) EVs stay tax-free until the end of 2027 (paultan.org). That is why the e.MAS 5, e.MAS 7 and both iCaur models are now built here. Charging is the bottleneck: Malaysia had 5,624 public chargers at the end of 2025, well short of the 10,000 originally targeted for that year (paultan.org).
Where this fits
Electric cars are now 8.4% of all new registrations. For the whole market, including petrol and hybrid models, see our ranking of Malaysia's best-selling car brands in 2026, where Proton's EV push helped it grow 38.5%. Proton's parent DRB-HICOM appears in our list of Malaysian companies by revenue. More data-led rankings are in our Business & Industry hub, and every rule we use is set out in our rankings methodology.
The full ranking
Proton e.MAS 5
Proton's five-seat electric hatchback, launched in October 2025 and now assembled in Tanjung Malim, Perak.
Why it was selected
17,837 new registrations from January to August 2026, 37.5% of all battery-electric cars and more than the next nine models combined (JPJ via data.gov.my). Momentum is still rising: August 2026 brought a record 4,770 registrations, 54% of the month's EVs (paultan.org). Priced from RM59,800, it is the cheapest car in this top ten by a wide margin.
Best for
First-time EV buyers who want an affordable city car with nationwide service.
Advantages
- Cheapest model in the top ten, from RM59,800
Limitations
- Base Prime variant has a shorter 225 km range
- Location:
- Tanjung Malim, Perak (Proton)
- Website:
- www.proton.com
- Verified:
- 5 Oct 2026
- EV registrations (Jan–Aug 2026):
- 17,837 (37.5% of EVs)
- August 2026:
- 4,770
- Price from:
- RM59,800 (paultan.org)
Sources: JPJ car registrations — data.gov.my, paultan.org — Proton eMas 5
Proton e.MAS 7
Proton's electric mid-size SUV, based on Geely technology and locally assembled since 2026.
Why it was selected
4,004 battery-electric registrations from January to August 2026, 8.4% of EVs (JPJ via data.gov.my). That is 26.6% lower than the same months of 2025, partly because buyers now have a cheaper Proton EV and a plug-in hybrid e.MAS 7, which JPJ counts separately (5,562 registrations). The CKD electric version starts at RM103,800 (AutoBuzz.my).
Best for
Families who want a roomy electric SUV for about RM100,000.
Advantages
- Roomy mid-size electric SUV from RM103,800
Limitations
- Electric version down 26.6% year on year
- Location:
- Tanjung Malim, Perak (Proton)
- Website:
- www.proton.com
- Verified:
- 5 Oct 2026
- EV registrations (Jan–Aug 2026):
- 4,004 (8.4% of EVs)
- Change vs Jan–Aug 2025:
- -26.6%
- Price from:
- RM103,800 CKD (AutoBuzz.my)
Sources: JPJ car registrations — data.gov.my, AutoBuzz.my — 2026 eMAS 7 CKD
BYD Atto 3
BYD's compact electric SUV, long one of Malaysia's best-selling EVs and facelifted in June 2026.
Why it was selected
3,027 new registrations from January to August 2026, up 28.1% year on year and the most of any EV outside Proton's range (JPJ via data.gov.my). The 2026 facelift added a longer-range rear-wheel-drive variant from about RM127,000 (AutoBuzz.my). August was weak, however: 252 registrations, down from 531 in July (paultan.org).
Best for
Buyers who want a proven compact electric SUV with a long local track record.
Advantages
- Best-selling EV outside Proton's range
Limitations
- Registrations halved in August 2026
- Location:
- Malaysia (BYD Sime Darby Motors)
- Website:
- www.byd.com/my
- Verified:
- 5 Oct 2026
- EV registrations (Jan–Aug 2026):
- 3,027 (6.4% of EVs)
- Change vs Jan–Aug 2025:
- +28.1%
- Price from:
- about RM127,000 (AutoBuzz.my)
Sources: JPJ car registrations — data.gov.my, AutoBuzz.my — 2026 BYD Atto 3
Zeekr 7X
Geely's premium electric SUV, sold in Malaysia as a fully imported model since August 2025.
Why it was selected
2,449 new registrations from January to August 2026, from just 6 in the same months of 2025 (JPJ via data.gov.my). It is the best-selling premium EV in Malaysia, ahead of both Teslas, despite prices that start at RM182,800 after the end of the CBU tax break (AutoBuzz.my). Zeekr plans to assemble the 7X at Tanjung Malim, though not before 2027 (paultan.org).
Best for
Buyers who want a premium electric SUV below luxury-brand prices.
Advantages
- Best-selling premium EV in Malaysia
Limitations
- Fully imported, so prices rose in 2026
- Location:
- Malaysia (Zeekr Malaysia)
- Website:
- www.zeekrlife.com/my
- Verified:
- 5 Oct 2026
- EV registrations (Jan–Aug 2026):
- 2,449 (5.2% of EVs)
- Change vs Jan–Aug 2025:
- new (6 registrations in 2025)
- Price from:
- RM182,800 (AutoBuzz.my)
Sources: JPJ car registrations — data.gov.my, AutoBuzz.my — 2026 Zeekr 7X pricing
iCaur V23
A retro, boxy electric SUV from Chery's iCaur brand, locally assembled from July 2026.
Why it was selected
2,133 new registrations from January to August 2026, 4.5% of EVs, in its first full year on sale (JPJ via data.gov.my, combining the "iCaur V23" and "V23" labels JPJ uses for the same car). The locally assembled all-wheel-drive version kept the RM132,780 price of the imported one (paultan.org). Registrations dipped in July and August as production switched to CKD.
Best for
Buyers who want a distinctive-looking electric SUV with all-wheel drive.
Advantages
- Strong first full year on sale
Limitations
- Registrations dipped during the switch to local assembly
- Location:
- Malaysia (Chery Malaysia / iCaur)
- Website:
- icaur.com.my
- Verified:
- 5 Oct 2026
- EV registrations (Jan–Aug 2026):
- 2,133 (4.5% of EVs)
- Change vs Jan–Aug 2025:
- new
- Price (CKD):
- RM132,780 (paultan.org)
Sources: JPJ car registrations — data.gov.my, paultan.org — iCaur V23 CKD
Tesla Model Y
Tesla's best-selling SUV worldwide, sold in Malaysia directly by Tesla as a fully imported model.
Why it was selected
1,978 new registrations from January to August 2026, 4.2% of EVs, down 3.3% year on year (JPJ via data.gov.my). It held steady while cheaper locally assembled rivals arrived, helped by Tesla's direct-sales model and Supercharger network. Tesla raised prices in July 2026; the Model Y now starts at RM198,000 (paultan.org).
Best for
Buyers who value Tesla's software, charging network and resale demand.
Advantages
- Steady demand despite higher prices
Limitations
- Most expensive model in the top ten
- Location:
- Malaysia (Tesla Malaysia)
- Website:
- www.tesla.com/en_my
- Verified:
- 5 Oct 2026
- EV registrations (Jan–Aug 2026):
- 1,978 (4.2% of EVs)
- Change vs Jan–Aug 2025:
- -3.3%
- Price from:
- RM198,000 (paultan.org)
Sources: JPJ car registrations — data.gov.my, paultan.org — Tesla Malaysia prices
Tesla Model 3
Tesla's electric sedan, sold in Malaysia directly by Tesla as a fully imported model.
Why it was selected
1,755 new registrations from January to August 2026, up 57.3% year on year (JPJ via data.gov.my). Most of the gain came late: 659 registrations in August alone, up from 135 in July, which lifted it to second place for the month (paultan.org). Prices start at RM149,000 after July's increase.
Best for
Drivers who want an electric sedan with strong performance and range.
Advantages
- Up 57.3%, fastest growth among models sold in both years
Limitations
- Sales arrive in uneven shipment-driven spikes
- Location:
- Malaysia (Tesla Malaysia)
- Website:
- www.tesla.com/en_my
- Verified:
- 5 Oct 2026
- EV registrations (Jan–Aug 2026):
- 1,755 (3.7% of EVs)
- Change vs Jan–Aug 2025:
- +57.3%
- Price from:
- RM149,000 (paultan.org)
Sources: JPJ car registrations — data.gov.my, paultan.org — Malaysia EV sales August 2026
BYD Sealion 7
BYD's electric coupe-SUV, recorded by JPJ as "Sealion" and updated for 2026 with a larger battery.
Why it was selected
1,456 new registrations from January to August 2026, but down 41.1% year on year, the steepest fall in the top ten (JPJ via data.gov.my). BYD answered in July 2026 with a new base Dynamic variant priced from RM163,800 (paultan.org).
Best for
Buyers who want a sporty, long-range electric SUV.
Advantages
- New 2026 base variant with a 91.3 kWh battery
Limitations
- Down 41.1%, the biggest fall in the top ten
- Location:
- Malaysia (BYD Sime Darby Motors)
- Website:
- www.byd.com/my
- Verified:
- 5 Oct 2026
- EV registrations (Jan–Aug 2026):
- 1,456 (3.1% of EVs)
- Change vs Jan–Aug 2025:
- -41.1%
- Price from:
- RM163,800 (paultan.org)
Sources: JPJ car registrations — data.gov.my, paultan.org — 2026 BYD Sealion 7
BYD Seal 6
BYD's electric family sedan, launched in Malaysia in September 2025.
Why it was selected
1,326 new registrations from January to August 2026 in its first full year on sale (JPJ via data.gov.my). It peaked at 268 in May but slowed to 84 in August, in line with the wider fall in BYD's registrations that month (paultan.org).
Best for
Families who want a practical electric sedan.
Advantages
- Strong first full year for a new model
Limitations
- Monthly registrations fell from May's peak
- Location:
- Malaysia (BYD Sime Darby Motors)
- Website:
- www.byd.com/my
- Verified:
- 5 Oct 2026
- EV registrations (Jan–Aug 2026):
- 1,326 (2.8% of EVs)
- Change vs Jan–Aug 2025:
- new
- August 2026:
- 84
Sources: JPJ car registrations — data.gov.my, paultan.org — Malaysia EV brand sales August 2026
iCaur 03
iCaur's compact off-road-styled electric SUV, locally assembled since May 2026.
Why it was selected
1,254 new registrations from January to August 2026 (JPJ via data.gov.my, combining "iCaur 03" with the "iCAUR 03 iWD" label JPJ uses for the locally assembled all-wheel-drive version). Since the switch to local assembly it has held between 140 and 220 registrations a month (JPJ via data.gov.my). It edges out the BYD Atto 2 by 298 registrations.
Best for
Buyers who want a rugged-looking compact electric SUV.
Advantages
- Steady monthly demand since local assembly began
Limitations
- Narrow lead over the BYD Atto 2 for tenth
- Location:
- Malaysia (Chery Malaysia / iCaur)
- Website:
- icaur.com.my
- Verified:
- 5 Oct 2026
- EV registrations (Jan–Aug 2026):
- 1,254 (2.6% of EVs)
- Change vs Jan–Aug 2025:
- new
- August 2026:
- 142
Sources: JPJ car registrations — data.gov.my, paultan.org — 2026 iCaur 03 CKD
Frequently asked questions
What is the best-selling electric car in Malaysia in 2026?
The Proton e.MAS 5 is Malaysia's best-selling electric car in 2026, with 17,837 new registrations from January to August, or 37.5% of all battery-electric cars registered, according to Malaysia's Top Ten's count of JPJ data on data.gov.my. It out-registered the next nine models combined. The Proton e.MAS 7 is second with 4,004 and the BYD Atto 3 third with 3,027.
How many electric cars were sold in Malaysia in 2026?
Malaysia registered 47,508 new battery-electric cars from January to August 2026, according to Malaysia's Top Ten's count of JPJ registration data on data.gov.my. That is 103% more than the 23,396 registered in the same months of 2025, and 8.4% of all new cars. August 2026 was the record month, with 8,833 EV registrations, or 11.4% of the market.
Which brand sells the most electric cars in Malaysia?
Proton sells the most electric cars in Malaysia in 2026, with 21,841 battery-electric registrations from January to August (the e.MAS 5 and e.MAS 7), or 46% of the EV market, according to JPJ data counted by Malaysia's Top Ten. BYD is second with 7,472, Tesla third with 3,733, the Chery group (iCaur, Jaecoo and Omoda) fourth with 3,525, and Zeekr fifth with 2,957.
What is the cheapest electric car in Malaysia's top 10 in 2026?
The Proton e.MAS 5 is the cheapest model in Malaysia's top ten best-selling EVs, priced from RM59,800 (RM56,800 after Proton's rebate) for the Prime variant with a 225 km range, according to paultan.org. That price is the main reason it became the best-selling EV of 2026, with 17,837 registrations from January to August.
Are Tesla cars still popular in Malaysia in 2026?
Yes. The Tesla Model Y (1,978 registrations) and Model 3 (1,755) rank sixth and seventh among Malaysia's best-selling electric cars from January to August 2026, according to JPJ data counted by Malaysia's Top Ten. The Model 3 is up 57.3% year on year and jumped to second place in August 2026 with 659 registrations, while the Model Y is down 3.3%.
How was this electric car ranking calculated?
Malaysia's Top Ten downloaded JPJ's raw car registration file from data.gov.my on 5 October 2026 and counted registrations with fuel type electric, by model, from 1 January to 31 August 2026. Plug-in hybrids are excluded. The metric, period and tie rule were fixed before counting, and positions follow the numbers with no editorial adjustment.
How this ranking was produced
- Question: Which electric car models registered the most new cars in Malaysia in 2026?
- Data: JPJ car registration transactions (dataset
registration_transactions_car), published by the Ministry of Transport on data.gov.my. We downloaded the raw 2026 file (566,616 rows) on 5 October 2026 and used the 2025 file for the year-on-year baseline. - Metric: number of new registrations with fuel type "electric", per maker and model, 1 January – 31 August 2026 (the latest full month in the file). Plug-in hybrids are recorded by JPJ as hybrids and are not counted.
- Model names: as recorded by JPJ. Only spelling or label variants of the same car were merged. Two such cases appeared: JPJ began filing locally assembled iCaur V23 units as "V23" from July 2026, and the locally assembled iCaur 03 as "iCAUR 03 iWD" from May 2026. Both are the same nameplate and were combined, as paultan.org also does. JPJ's "Sealion" is the BYD Sealion 7.
- Year-on-year: the same eight months of 2025 from the same source. Models with six or fewer registrations in that window are marked as new.
- Tie rule (set before counting): the higher August 2026 count ranks first. No tie occurred.
- Cross-checks: paultan.org's monthly EV model and brand tables, which also use JPJ data.
- Full house rules: our rankings methodology.
Notable exclusions
Candidates considered but not ranked, and why:
- BYD Atto 2 (956, 11th) and Leapmotor B10 (918, 12th) — Just outside the top ten. The Atto 2 doubled year on year (+105.2%) and the B10 is new in 2026, but neither reached the 1,254 registrations of the iCaur 03 in tenth place.
- JPJ label variants (iCaur V23, iCaur 03) — Merged as the same car, as declared in our method. Counted strictly by JPJ's label, the iCaur V23 would rank sixth (1,812) behind the Tesla Model Y, the iCaur 03 (708) would drop out, and the BYD Atto 2 would take tenth place.
- Proton e.MAS 7 PHEV (5,562 registrations) — A plug-in hybrid, recorded by JPJ as hybrid petrol. This ranking counts battery-electric cars only, so only the 4,004 fully electric e.MAS 7 registrations are included.
- Perodua QV-E (374) — Perodua's first electric car is new for 2026 and registered 374 units from January to August, far below the top ten.
- Electric vans and commercial vehicles — Electric window vans and pick-ups in the car file (about 1,000 registrations) are counted by model like any other entry; none reached the top ten. Electric motorcycles, buses and lorries are in separate JPJ files and are outside scope.
Sources & references
- data.gov.my — Car Registration Transactions (registration_transactions_car), JPJ / Ministry of Transport
- Raw file — cars_2026.csv (downloaded 5 October 2026)
- Raw file — cars_2025.csv (year-on-year baseline)
- paultan.org — Malaysia EV car sales in August 2026: eMas 5 doubles to 4,770
- paultan.org — Malaysia EV brand sales in August 2026
- paultan.org — Electrified cars in Malaysia double in a year
- paultan.org — CKD EVs tax-exempt till 31 December 2027; RM250k CBU floor price (MITI)
- paultan.org — Malaysia's public EV chargers versus the 10,000 target
- paultan.org — Proton eMas 5 prices and specifications
- AutoBuzz.my — 2026 Proton eMAS 7 CKD, from RM104k
- paultan.org — iCaur V23 CKD in Malaysia, RM133k
- paultan.org — 2026 iCaur 03 CKD launched in Malaysia
- paultan.org — Zeekr CKD: Malaysia first country outside China to assemble its EVs
- paultan.org — Tesla Malaysia raises prices, Model 3 from RM149k
- paultan.org — 2026 BYD Sealion 7 launched in Malaysia, from RM163,800
- AutoBuzz.my — 2026 BYD Atto 3 launched in Malaysia, from RM127k
Limitations
This ranking covers January to August 2026, the latest full month in JPJ's file when we downloaded it on 5 October 2026; positions can change by year-end. Registrations are not sales: cars in dealer stock that are not yet registered are not counted, so totals can differ slightly from carmaker announcements. We count battery-electric cars only. Model names follow JPJ's records, with label variants of the same car merged as described. Registration volume measures popularity, not quality, range, safety or value for money.
Update history
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| 5 Oct 2026 | First published (JPJ registration data 1 January – 31 August 2026, downloaded 5 October 2026). |
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