Proton is off to a great start when it comes to electric vehicle (EV) sales in 2026 with a total of 3,276 registrations recorded by the road transport department (JPJ) in January. This is more than enough for it to become the best-selling EV brand in Malaysia in the first month of this year despite selling just the eMas 7 and eMas 5.
Behind Proton by 2,363 units is BYD, which managed 913 registrations to take second place. Rounding off the podium is Zeekr in third with 489 units, while iCaur followed closely in fourth with 451 units.
Outside the top four, no other brand managed to break past the 400-unit mark. This includes Tesla that managed 176 units to take fifth place and a slender lead over Leapmotor in sixth with 171 units as well as MG in seventh with 169 units.
Brands that didn’t crack triple-digit registrations start with Xpeng in eighth with 97 units, followed by Mercedes-Benz in ninth (83 units), Denza in tenth (55 units), Great Wall Motor in 11th (51 units), Dongfeng in 12th (43 units), BMW in 13th (40 units) and smart in 14th (38 units).
TQ Wuling makes its appearance in the top 20 list following the launch of the Bingo in December 2025, with the locally-assembled (CKD) EV seeing 35 registrations to place the brand in 15th with 35 units.
In the bottom five of the top 20 list, Porsche is in 16th with 32 units (amount likely includes recon cars), followed by Volvo in 17th (28 units), Neta in 18th (24 units), MINI in 19th (23 units) and finally, Lexus in 20th (19 units).
There are still 11 months to go in 2026 and things can change as brands introduce new models or commence CKD operations for price competitiveness. As it stands now, Proton is on top by a considerable margin.
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Thanks to the failure of Perodua QV-E becoming best assist to the success of Proton Emas5. I guess at least half of the Emas5 driver are potential Perodua EV users but until they see the “battery leasing program” all turn down the Perodua brand for EV.
I try to search for Perodua till the bottom still I can’t find them. Mean their Jan sales is less than 19 units. Perodua should fire the one who come out with battery leasing program and penalty the CEO who buy this concept. If this BaaS is successful why Tesla and BYD not taking it unless Perodua thought they are making more superior EV than the duo giants of EV. The success in ICE make their ego went high and apply in EV where the Japanese weak on.
No matter what in EV segment it is already a fate that Perodua will lose in the race to compete with Proton. Japanese make reliable ICE than Chinese but Chinese make good EV than Japanese.
QV-E Jan – 0
Zero sales for the month of January due to components from China not up to Perodua High Standard, CATL batteries? Shanghai Electrics BMS or BYD electric motor? LOL
Mana QV-E? Oh, that’s right 0 booking. Every other brands are laughing to the bank with their EV sales figure.
Perodua qv-e selling 0 unit, selling rm99k outright better than a dismal totally rugi situation now. The person who came out that baas idea should be sacked.
Must sacks Chairman, CEO, GM. 3 stooges
The absence of Perodua proves that what a failure Perodua’s strategy is. Hate to admit when I know Perodua is self developing the EV, I want it to succeed but they are killing themselves. The CEO and the marketing dept should go.
Perodua should do a self-reflection. People rather buy from a bankrupt company than renting battery.
if people are smart enough not to rent the batteries, they should also be smart enough not to buy from a bankrupt company.
Last year, Perodua supporters claimed that once the Perodua EV is launched, it will outsell all other EVs, leaving the competitors in the dust.
Perodua supporters are some of the most retarded “car people” ever. They will defend underpower underspec overpriced milo tin kosong in the name of resale value.