Isn't it like… so common nowadays for parents to encourage their kids to get their driver’s licence as soon as they finish high school? Growing up, most of us had friends who got their licence even before their SPM results came out!
And it’s not that surprising—cars are relatively accessible in Malaysia, especially with local brands like Proton and Perodua making it more affordable to buy and maintain a vehicle compared to imported cars. But that’s just our take on why car ownership is so high in Malaysia.
Photo via The Malaysian Reserve
Here’s what the numbers say…
According to a 2023 report by Seasia.co, Malaysia recorded 535 vehicles per 1,000 people, making it the second-highest vehicle ownership rate in Asia, right after Japan. Meanwhile, a 2024 study by Rakuten Insight showed that nearly 73% of Malaysians surveyed own a car—a clear sign of how common personal vehicle ownership has become.
The trend doesn’t seem to be slowing down either. As of 28 February 2025, data from data.gov.my revealed that 113,136 private vehicles have already been registered this year. Local favourites Perodua and Proton lead the charts, with 54,627 and 20,756 units sold respectively, followed by Toyota (15,407) and Honda (10,866).
Associate Professor Dr. Law Teik Hua, from Universiti Putra Malaysia’s Road Safety Research Centre, explains that affordable petrol prices and cheaper car options have contributed significantly to the rise in car ownership.
But there’s a flip side.
Photo via Malay Mail
Dr. Law warns that our road infrastructure hasn’t caught up with the growing number of vehicles. Congested traffic—especially during peak hours—is becoming a norm, and cities like Klang Valley, Johor Bahru, Penang, and Melaka are the worst hit due to rapid economic growth and population density.
He adds that many roads are shared by cars, motorcycles, and lorries, creating inefficiencies and bottlenecks. And without increased road capacity, traffic jams are only going to get worse.
So yes, while getting a car might be easy, navigating the roads… not so much.
