THE transition towards electric mobility has gathered significant momentum, with the cumulative number of battery electric passenger vehicles (BEVs) registered since 2018 reaching 94,165 units, underscoring the country’s accelerating shift towards cleaner transportation and green industrial development.
Deputy Prime Minister II Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the rapid growth in electric vehicle adoption reflected increasing national confidence in the sector and reinforced Malaysia’s ambition to establish a competitive and comprehensive EV ecosystem.
He stressed that electric vehicles were no longer simply part of a global automotive trend, but had evolved into a strategic national imperative closely tied to investment expansion, industrial competitiveness, energy resilience and the wellbeing of the rakyat.
“I recently chaired the National EV Steering Committee (NEVSC) Meeting No. 1/2026 at Menara MITI. The meeting was held to strengthen the development of the national EV ecosystem,” he said in a Facebook post Tuesday night.
“Malaysia has shown encouraging progress in the use of EVs, particularly in the battery electric vehicle category,” he added.
The latest figures highlight the government’s ongoing push to accelerate low-carbon transportation adoption as Malaysia positions itself as a regional hub for electric mobility manufacturing, infrastructure and technology investment.
Fadillah said the meeting was expected to identify practical and high-impact solutions that could be implemented in the near term to strengthen the country’s EV industry and supporting ecosystem in a more progressive, coordinated and competitive manner.
The NEVSC meeting also focused on improving policy coordination and addressing operational challenges linked to EV infrastructure, investment facilitation, supply chain development and long-term industry sustainability.
Malaysia has in recent years intensified efforts to attract EV-related investments through tax incentives, infrastructure development plans and strategic industrial partnerships aimed at supporting the nation’s broader energy transition agenda and carbon reduction commitments.
Government leaders view the EV sector as a critical component of future economic growth, with stronger adoption rates expected to stimulate technological innovation, create high-skilled employment opportunities and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
Fadillah reiterated that strengthening the EV ecosystem required close coordination between ministries, industry stakeholders and policymakers to ensure Malaysia remained competitive in the rapidly evolving global automotive landscape. - May 20, 2026
