Car sales in Malaysia rose sharply in March 2025 according to new data from the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA). The total number of vehicles sold, called the Total Industry Volume (TIV), reached 72,704 units. This is a 12 per cent increase compared to February 2025, when 65,061 vehicles were sold.
The MAA said that the strong growth in March was helped by two key factors: the Hari Raya season and special offers from car brands.
“The higher TIV growth can be attributed to the Hari Raya festive celebration and attractive promotional offers from automotive companies,” the MAA said in a statement.
These promotions included limited-time discounts, free service packages, and flexible payment plans offered by many dealerships across the country.
Car Sales at a Glance
Car sales also increased slightly when compared to the same month last year. In March 2024, a total of 71,199 vehicles were sold. That means sales in March 2025 were up by 2 per cent year-on-year.
This shows that consumer interest in new vehicles remains steady, even as the market faces challenges like rising living costs and tighter loan approvals.
Most of the vehicles sold in March were passenger cars like sedans, hatchbacks, SUVs, and MPVs. A total of 55,301 passenger vehicles were sold. Meanwhile, commercial vehicles, such as lorries and vans, made up 2,762 of the total sales.
This trend reflects the strong demand among regular drivers and families, especially during holiday seasons when travel is more common.
Vehicle Production Drops Despite Strong Sales
Interestingly, while more vehicles were sold in March, fewer were actually produced. The MAA reported that only 58,063 vehicles were made during the month. This is a 13 per cent drop compared to the number of vehicles produced in March 2024.
The reason for this drop was not explained in detail, but it may be due to supply chain issues, factory slowdowns, or adjustments in production planning based on earlier stock levels.
April Sales Expected to Slow Down
Looking ahead, the MAA expects that car sales will be slower in April.
“MAA expects the TIV for April to be lower than March due to the long Hari Raya celebration break during the first week of the month,” the association noted.
Because many businesses, including car showrooms, were closed for the holiday period, fewer buyers may have made purchases during the early part of the month.
Overall, the first three months of 2025 show a steady start for Malaysia’s automotive industry. Despite challenges in production and global economic uncertainty, Malaysians are still buying cars, especially when deals are good and holidays are near.
Did you find this article interesting? Click the ‘heart’ button above to give it a ‘like’.
