A survey conducted by international research firm Ipsos revealed that the majority of Malaysians prefer using their cars over public transportation.
Survey says…
The Ipsos Mobility Monitor 2026 surveyed 500 Malaysian adults and discovered key findings on public perceptions of the country’s public transportation, interest in new energy vehicles (NEVs), and views of autonomous vehicles.
Through this survey, Ipsos found Malaysians scored higher than the global average in several key areas.
Price is not the problem
The survey revealed a whopping 77 per cent of Malaysians prefer using their own vehicles over public transportation – well above the global average of 54 per cent,.
The data also showed that only 10 per cent use public transportation as their primary mode of transportation. Meanwhile, 8 per cent typically use ride-hailing services and 5 per cent choose to walk.
Interestingly, majority of Malaysians, 62 per cent, found that their country’s public transportation prices were affordable. This result is also above the global average of 53 per cent. This sentiment may be a result of the government’s My50 unlimited travel pass project and a 30 per cent discount on weekday train tickets.
Additionally, 55 per cent of Malaysians felt transportation options are limited, suggesting that commutes are difficult. Like the two previous results, this figure is higher than the global average of 47 per cent.
These results reveal that pricing is not the main barrier to public transport use in Malaysia – rather availability and connectivity appear to be the core issue. Despite government efforts to encourage public transportation including price reductions, they have not significantly increased usage. According to Thomas Tan, research director at Ipsos Malaysia, the “last-mile connectivity” remains his Malaysia’s primary obstacle in encouraging public transportation use.
“Last-mile connectivity continues to limit wider adoption,” he told the MalayMail.
Open to new tech
While most Malaysians enjoy the use of their own vehicles, they are also open to new automotive innovations. Fifty-one per cent of respondents said they are interested in driving an EV, higher than the global average of 47 per cent.
Another 61 per cent expressed that they would feel safe riding an autonomous vehicle, revealing more trust in self-driving cars compared to the global average of 36 per cent.
Most Malaysians also expressed that they would rather buy a car from an “established” manufacturer rather than a tech company, with 39 per cent favouring traditional carmakers compared to 26 per cent for tech firms.
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