Malaysia Has The Second-Highest Car Ownership Rate In Asia After Japan
We are proud of our cars, but not our traffic jams.
It's a well-known fact that owning a car is deeply ingrained in Malaysian life
It's common for Malaysian families to own several cars, often one for each adult. As a result, traffic congestion remains a major issue, particularly in densely populated areas like the Klang Valley.
While stuck in the infamous traffic jams, have you ever wondered how many cars Malaysians actually own?
Image via seasia.co
Statistics from Seasia.co indicate that Malaysia has the second-highest rate of car ownership in Asia, with 535 cars for every 1,000 people, second only to Japan.
Interestingly, within the first three months of 2025, data from data.gov.my shows a substantial number of new car registrations, despite a slight dip in January.
Local favourites Perodua and Proton led the way with 54,627 and 20,756 registrations respectively, highlighting their continued popularity among Malaysian car buyers.
Image via data.gov
In fact, car ownership in Malaysia has seen a steady increase in the last five years
Image via data.gov
When we look at the yearly data, car ownership has been on a steady climb since 2021. What's interesting is that the biggest jump in car ownership happened between 2021 and 2022.
This increase likely coincided with a period of more affordable car prices, possibly influenced by the economic conditions during and after the pandemic.
The data shows that traffic jams are not going anywhere anytime soon
Image via LegendaryLim
Despite the expansion of the MRT and LRT networks, many areas still lack sufficient public transport options. For people living in these areas, relying on public transport simply isn't a practical solution.
To effectively tackle the traffic problem, improving public transport is key, making it the go-to option instead of a backup. Suggestions include expanding bus, MRT, and LRT routes to cover more areas, making it easier for people to get around without relying on their cars.
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