Market Overview - Malaysia's new vehicle market rebounded by 27% to 64,298 units in January 2026, compared to 50,449 units in January 2025, driven by additional working days due to the Lunar New Year timing [1] - The vehicle market was supported by high registrations of vehicles purchased before the end of 2025, new locally produced models, and aggressive year-end promotions by dealers [2] Economic Context - Consumer sentiment has improved, contributing to economic growth of 6.3% year-on-year in Q4 2025, up from 5.4% in Q3, driven by stronger domestic consumption, investment, and exports [2] - The overall economy expanded by 5.2% in 2025, slightly up from 5.1% in 2024 [2] Vehicle Sales Breakdown - Light passenger vehicle sales increased by 28% year-on-year to 60,369 units, while commercial vehicle sales rose by 15% to 3,929 units [3] - Battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales surged to 6,239 units from 1,691 units a year earlier, with the Proton eMas 5 leading at 3,068 units sold [3] Production and Future Outlook - Vehicle production in Malaysia rose by 6% to 60,866 units in January 2026, compared to 57,450 units in January 2025 [4] - The vehicle market is expected to weaken in February 2026 due to the Lunar New Year holidays, with GlobalData forecasting a 3.2% decline in light vehicle sales to 801,000 units for the entire year [4] Company Performance - Perodua's sales increased by 12% to 26,130 units in January 2026, supported by the launch of the new Traz compact SUV and its first BEV model [5] - Proton reported a 35% increase in global vehicle sales to 19,833 units, with the Saga being the best-selling model [5] - UMW Toyota experienced a nearly 23% rise in wholesale deliveries to 6,598 units, with the Vios and Hilux as top sellers [6]

Vehicle Sales Overview - New vehicle sales in the Philippines increased by 2% to 42,870 units in December 2025 from 42,044 units in December 2024, indicating a slight market growth despite recent slowdowns [1] - The total vehicle market for 2025 saw a minor decline to 463,646 units from 467,252 units in 2024, with commercial vehicle sales rising by 7% to 370,722 units, while passenger car sales dropped by 23% to 92,924 units [3] Market Dynamics - The Philippine vehicle market, including non-CAMPI/TMA members, grew by 3.7% to 491,395 units in 2025 from 473,842 units in 2024, showcasing resilience in the overall market despite challenges [3] - Toyota led the market with a 5% increase in sales to 229,447 units, driven by strong demand for its Hilux and Avanza/Veloz models, while other brands like Mitsubishi, Suzuki, Ford, and Nissan experienced varying sales changes [4] Electrified Vehicle Segment - Sales of electrified vehicles surged by 142% to 58,903 units in 2025, with hybrid vehicles making up approximately 90% of this total, reflecting a growing consumer interest in sustainable options [5] - The government's expansion of the EO12 zero-tariff incentive program to include hybrid vehicles has likely contributed to this significant growth in electrified vehicle sales [5] Economic Context - Economic growth in the Philippines is projected to have stabilized in Q4 2025, following a slowdown to 4.4% year-on-year in Q3, influenced by increased government spending due to severe weather-related flooding [2] - For the full year, GDP growth is estimated at 4.7%, down from 5.7% in 2024, indicating a challenging economic environment despite a reduction in the central bank's benchmark interest rate by 200 basis points to 4.50% [2] Future Projections - GlobalData forecasts a continued growth in the light vehicle market, expecting a 4% increase to 493,000 units in 2026 and a further 5% growth to 517,000 units in 2027, driven by consumer response to lower interest rates [6]

Core Insights - Retail sales of locally-produced passenger vehicles in China increased by less than 5% to 1.995 million units in August 2025 compared to 1.906 million units in August 2024 [1] - The domestic passenger vehicle market experienced its seventh consecutive month of growth, driven by government sales incentives and price competition among manufacturers [2] - The Chinese government plans to continue funding subsidy programs until at least the end of 2025 while urging manufacturers to limit excessive discounting to protect smaller EV brands [3] Sales Performance - Retail sales of Chinese-owned brands rose by 9% to 1.32 million units in August, making up two-thirds of total passenger vehicle sales [4] - New energy vehicle (NEV) sales increased by 5% year-on-year to just over 1.079 million units in August, showing a slowdown compared to earlier in the year [4] - Overall passenger vehicle retail sales in China for the first eight months of 2025 rose by 9.5% to 14.741 million units from 13.464 million units in the same period last year, primarily driven by strong demand for sedans and SUVs [4] - NEV sales for the same period increased by 25% to 7.540 million units, representing 51% of total passenger vehicle sales [4]