The All-New BMW iX1 eDrive20L M Sport - A new, longer wheelbase iX1 variant gets launched for the Malaysian market

 Earlier today, BMW Group Malaysia launched the All-New BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport Pro. This is the first-ever fully electric BMW model to be locally assembled and  the All-New BMW iX1 eDrive20L M Sport, the long-wheelbase variant of BMW’s popular compact electric Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV). Together, the new models strengthen the brand’s expanding line-up of electrified offerings, delivering greater range, innovation, and versatility to meet the strong and rising demand for premium electrified mobility in Malaysia.

BMW Group Malaysia launches the All-New BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport Pro - The first locally assembled fully electric BMW vehicle to be assembled in Malaysia

Earlier today, BMW Group Malaysia launched the All-New BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport Pro. This is the first-ever fully electric BMW model to be locally assembled and was launched alongside the All-New BMW iX1 eDrive20L M Sport, a long-wheelbase variant of BMW’s popular compact electric Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV). Together, these new models strengthen the brand’s expanding line-up of electrified offerings, which delivers greater range, innovation, and versatility to meet the strong and rising demand for premium electrified mobility in Malaysia. 

The new Mercedes-Benz CLA with EQ technology EV was just previewed here in Bangsar, over 750km range andvto be launched in the 2nd quarter of 2026

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia presented to the media an exclusive preview of the highly anticipated all-new electric Mercedes-Benz CLA. The marque will give customers an exclusive glimpse of the all-new electric Mercedes-Benz CLA at Stars@Mercedes-Benz Bangsar from 15 to 18 January 2026 and this fully electric variant of the latest generation CLA will be for sale by the second quarter for an estimated price of RM295,888 before insurance.

The all-new Mercedes- Benz CLA will be on display from 15 to 18 January 2026 at the newly launched Stars@Mercedes-Benz Bangsar, offering customers an early look at themarque’s next chapter in performance, design, and technology. 

UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT), Malaysia’s number one non-national automotive brand, today unveiled the new Toyota Vellfire 2.5 HEV Executive Lounge

Yesterday, the 12th of January 2026, UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT), Malaysia’s number one non-national automotive brand (around 100,000units sold - for four years running), launched the new Toyota Vellfire 2.5 HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle) Executive Lounge. This is the brand's new flagship SUV model  redefining electrified luxury offering customers both performance and purpose. Combining advanced hybrid technology, its silent performance and refined craftsmanship, the new Vellfire HEV represents the finest expression of a Toyota, bringing Toyota’s vision for Mobility for All to life through purposeful innovation and responsible luxury.

Proton e.MAS 7 PHEV now open for booking - Launch in February '26 with Prices estimated between RM110-130k for three variants

This evening, Proton New Energy Technology Sdn Bhd (PRO-NET), a wholly owned subsidiary of national carmaker PROTON, announced that bookings for the all-new Proton e.MAS 7 PHEV are officially open, marking the debut of PROTON’s first Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV), also dubbed as the first Dual-Powered EV for the Malaysian market. Tentative prices for the upcoming from RM110,000 to RM130,000 and Now Open for Booking from RM 99*, with RM500 rebate on the booking fee* 

Offers = Michelin has Tyre Deals this New Year for Popular Models here in Malaysia until 31st March 2026

Michelin Malaysia has announced promotional pricing and the festive " Double Happiness" Cashback Giveaway where you can  gain significant savings while equipping your  cars with premium tyres that give Performance Made to Last. There are also chances to win up to RM4,000 during this campaign which is ongoing from now until the upcoming Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations in March 2026.

From now until 31 March 2026, you can get special promotional pricing on a wide range of MICHELIN tyre patterns and sizes. The promotion features competitive offer prices on popular tyre sizes from 15" to 19" inches and above, including the MICHELIN ENERGY XM2+, MICHELIN PRIMACY 5, MICHELIN PRIMACY SUV+, MICHELIN PILOT SPORT 5, and MICHELIN LTX TRAIL ST ranges, allowing drivers to find the perfect match for their vehicles.

The soon to be launched in Malaysia JETOUR T2 Achieves 5-Star ASEAN NCAP Safety Ratings

 

On Friday, the 9th of January, JETOUR Malaysia announced that the soon to be launched JETOUR T2 has achieved a 5-star rating from the ASEAN New Car Assessment Programme (ASEAN NCAP) under the 2021–2025 assessment protocol, with an overall score of 86.50 points. The 5-star ASEAN NCAP rating is much welcomed as the JETOUR T2 prepares to make its Malaysian entrance in the 1st quarter of 2026. You can view the ASEAN NCAP results here - https://www.aseancap.org/result/12873

Offers - Hyundai Motor Malaysia Offers Rewarding New Journeys for the Lunar New Year

Hyundai Motor Malaysia have introduced Lunar New Year promotions, with the new TUCSON available from RM125,888. One can enjoy Total Drive Rewards, Instant Savings or 0% interest financing for the brand’s product line-up including the new TUCSON, all-new SANTA FE and STARIA.


There is also a RM888 Early Bird Ang Pao available in addition to selected promotional savings for customers who test drive and book within seven working days.

More details are in the official press release below. 

KUALA LUMPUR, January 8, 2026 –

2026 Proton X70 SUV gets the new 4 cylinder 1.5 liter engine - only 2 variants starting from RM99,800 with early bird rebate

Last week, on the 8th of January 2026, PROTON launched the 2026 PROTON X70. This is the brand's flagship C-Segment SUV and it comes with improvements, most notably is the new 4 cylinder 1.5liter turbocharged petrol engine over the previous 3 cylinder 1.5liter engine which is technically a smoother engine overall . According to Proton, the 2026 X70 aside from the engine, has enhancements in comfort and convienience too, and has been developed by strengthening the areas that matter most throughout the ownership period and also finely tuned after considering customers’ feedback.

UMW TOYOTA MOTOR LAUNCHES THE 2026 TOYOTA GR COROLLA AUTOMATIC & ALSO ANNOUNCES OTHER UPDATES TO GR VEHICLES HERE IN MALAYSIA

 On Saturday, the 10th of January 2026, UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd (UMWT) officially launched the 2026 Toyota GR Corolla Automatic Transmission (AT) in Malaysia, expanding access to Toyota Gazoo Racing’s race-bred performance for a wider group of drivers. The sports C segment hatch, has been designed for those who aspire to experience the thrill of a motorsports developed car but prefer the ease and confidence of an automatic, the GR Corolla AT combines high-performance engineering with intuitive control and everyday use without compromising the authentic GR driving character. 

SO this is 'easy mode; GR. Well, not really. This is not to say that only 'real men' drive manual transmissions, but in this day and age, especially in traffic jam packed regions like the Klang Valley and the fact that car ownership may only mean one nice car at a time, an automatic performance hatchback actually makes sense. This is age catching up with the writer of this blog, an decades of driving in traffic has mellowed him. I do like options given to customers, especially if it makes like easier for most people. 

Perodua Traz SUV launched - Prices start from RM76,100 onwards

This is actually the first serious release from Perodua after two years! Well, I wouldn't consider their recent EV launch as something serious, more like an experiment for their subscription style service and an experiment on how to do electric. But this, the new 2026 onwards Perodua Traz is helluva important as it is basically their brand topping B segment SUV for the masses. At RM76,100 onwards, in two variants (one more is a two tone coloured version only) it should satisfy those that want a larger car with that Perodua badge on it.


Not only that, this is actually the Daihatsu New Global Architecture (DNGA) based Toyota Yaris Cross.The development of the model was done by Daihatsu through a joint Toyota-Daihatsu internal company known as Emerging-market Compact Car Company (ECC).and it shares the DNGA-B platform with the AC100 series current Toyota Vios/Yaris sedan which is sold here by UMW Toyota. This is actually different from the Yaris Cross we see in Japan, as that is a TNGA platform SUV (which a shorter wheelbase, and it smaller - Traz is 2620mm vs 2520mm for the XP201 Yaris Cross). So many changes for a car with the same name. 

TQ WULING Bingo EV Officially Launched in Malaysia - Two Locally Assembled Variants Starting from RM67,800 onwards

TQ WULING has launchedt he Wuling Bingo EV. This new battery electric EV is available in two variants, offering a driving range of up to 410 km (CLTC) on a single charge which is for the top variant (WLTP should be about 23% less give or take which is still a reasonable range). With the launch, this is currently the most affordable B segment EV around, as with the early bird rebates, are even cheaper than a Proton eMAS 5.

Kia Sales Malaysia Sdn Bhd (KSM), now principal led, is poised to bring a refreshed brand experience to Malaysia - Some thoughts at the end of this article

Today, Kia Sales Malaysia Sdn Bhd (KSM), announced that the company is geared to bring a refreshed brand experience to Malaysians.. The principal led set up wants to address the brand skepticism head on, by trying to answer a question on most people’s minds, ‘Why Kia?’

Leapmotor B10 launched in Malaysia - Two variants from RM108,900 onwards but cheaper with early bird offers

Earlier this morning, Stellantis Malaysia officially unveiled the all-new electric Leapmotor B10 SUV. This a battery electric vehicle (BEV) SUV which is a C segment SUV which Leapmotor says is poised to set a new benchmark for accessible innovation and sustainable mobility for Malaysians. Malaysia will have it in two variants - the B10 Life at RM107,800 (361KM WLTP range) and the B10 Design at RM118,800 (434km WLTP range), both prices before any insurance.

New Mercedes-Benz GLC 200 4MATIC with AMG-Line kit launched - Priced at RM329,888 before insurance

The launch of the new 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLC 200 4MATIC expands Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s GLC portfolio with an internal combustion engine (ICE) variant, giving customers even greater flexibility to select a model that suits their driving preferences. This new variant for the Malaysian market is produced locally in Pekan, Pahang. It is priced at RM329,888 on the road before any insurance. It was launched today with a new GLE variant - the Mercedes-Benz GLE 400e 4MATIC.

The new Mercedes-Benz GLE 400 e 4MATIC with EQ Hybrid Technology is launched in Malaysia - Priced from RM 498,888 *On the road without Insurance

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has launched the new for 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLE 400 e 4MATIC with EQ Hybrid Technology with a 114km WLTP all electric only range. This is the first-ever GLE plug-in hybrid introduced in Malaysia and is priced at RM498,888 on the road in Peninsular Malaysia without insurance. It is also locally assembled in Pekan, Pahang. This was launched earlier today with the new 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLC 200 4MATIC.

The 11th HINO Total Support (TS) Contest happened last Saturday, the 6th of December 2025.

Hino Motors Sales (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. (Hino Malaysia) proudly hosted their 11th HINO Total Support (TS) Contest last Saturday, the 6th of December 2025. This has been an annual competition that promotes excellence, teamwork, and customer-focused service among Hino’s nationwide dealer network and we are proud to say that we have attended quite a few of it over the years.

This year’s contest brings together finalists from 11 authorized dealers throughout Malaysia. This time around, the finalists were selected after completing the preliminary round earlier this year. These finalists competed in the finals showcasing their skills and teamwork and slightly differs from last year's event, where it was a whole day event without preliminary rounds being held. A little bit different this time around. But as always, the event aims to strengthen dealer competency and uphold Hino’s two core values, which are ‘Providing Best-fit Products’ and ‘Total Support’ to our customers.

BYD and DENZA Bring Light the Change Festival to Desa ParkCity with a Month-Long Immersive Sustainability Experience - Ongoing till 4th January 2026 at Desa Park City

BYD and DENZA, the luxury intelligent electric vehicle brand under BYD take the stage at the ParkCity Year-End Light Festival in The Waterfront @ Desa ParkCity with the Light the Change Festival, a showcase that goes beyond visual expression to spark meaningful conversation on sustainability and the future of mobility. The brands at the festival, reinforce their commitment to environmental responsibility while fostering connection and progress. Our participation recognises that protecting the planet requires collective effort from communities, consumers, and industry leaders. It will be ongoing till 4th January 2026 where you can pledge a plant and also test drive a BYD or a Denza.

One Degree. One Future, a global initiative to cool the Earth by one degree Celsius, shows how BYD and DENZA electric mobility solutions, energy innovations and sustainability efforts drive real change for a healthier environment. Since entering the new energy vehicle sector, BYD’s electric solutions have collectively helped reduce more than 9.3 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions globally.

Perodua EV launched with a unique separate battery subscription

So the Perodua QV-E has launched and it will cost RM80,000 before insurance and a battery subscription service. It is very good looking compared to the competition at its Rm80k price but once you head over to the nearest showroom bear in mind that it comes with a separate battery monthly installment to think about. New. Unique. Surprising. 

Details in how much it costs will be shared later but this us essentially Perodua's take on the battery EV. It has over 439km estimated range, looks good and packed with features like all cars coming into 2026 needs to be. 

The unique feature for me is that this is fully a Perodua with an outside partner that isn't part of the Toyota ecosystem. The car is fully a Perodua venture so kudos to them for the initiative. If everything is successful, there is a probability that it would be adopted by the group for regional sales like how the Perodua Myvi was adopted for Indonesia as an example. 

So there are people who will question why it costs so much versus their competitor Proton. Well, this, is a whole new car designed and built by Perodua. The eMAS 5 is a Geely rebadge and essentially a China car, where they are somehow able to keep costs down. Or some sort if magical way with numbers. 

Much like the Perodua Nautica. The first RM80k vehicle by them was basically an experiment in gauging the market reception. This QV-E is just that. A first time EV effort and a first time sales test for EV adoption by the brand. Knowing Perodua, test or not, the car will be of a certain high quality that we have been used to see in their vehicles so expect it to be good from that point of view.

Press release 

Perodua launches its first Battery Electric Vehicle (EV) named QV-E priced at RM80,000 (retail price, without insurance & battery not included), as part of the national car company’s agenda to develop a sustainable EV ecosystem.

The QV-E, which stands for “Quest for Visionary Electric Vehicle” took RM800 million to develop and is produced at Perodua’s newest manufacturing facility – the “Smart Mobility Plant”.

“For now, we are able to produce 500 units a month, but we would be able to offer

3,000 units a month by the third quarter of 2026,” Perodua President and Chief

Executive Officer, Dato’ Sri Zainal Abidin Ahmad said.

The QV-E uses a Lithium Iron Phosphate battery (52.5kW) and has a range capacity

of up to 445KM (NEDC) depending on driving style, temperature and road conditions.

This model hosts the latest in safety features including a Child Presence Detection (CPD) system.

This system will alert the driver if there is a child or even pets in the car as it can

detect and track movements as well as vital signs (such as breathing) in the

second-row seat and within the footwell area of the car. The system can also detect

movement even under fabric coverings.

(An illustration of how this system works is included with this media release).

“All the features within the QV-E were created with the latest functionality, advanced safety and comfort in mind based on a detailed study conducted by our Research and Development (R&D) department.

“Ultimately, this model is the outcome of Malaysians coming together to create

something uniquely ours, from design to engineering, the QV-E offers a path all of us can benefit from,” Dato’ Sri Zainal said.

In the New Industrial Master Plan 2030, which was unveiled by the Prime Minister

Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim on 1 September 2023, Perodua was appointed to

champion and lead the local automotive manufacturers in developing the EV

ecosystem.

Perodua is aggressively working with local vendors to localise the components to

over 50% by early 2026 and to 70% by 2030. So far, a total of 52 Malaysian

companies supply auto components for QV-E and the compact car company is

looking to increase the number to 70 vendors within 5 years (by 2030).

Led by the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) and supported by

various ministries and government agencies, Perodua was able to produce an EV vehicle in 28 months.

“The support given to us by the government has been instrumental in revolutionising the Malaysian EV ecosystem and at the same time placing great attention to quality, reliability and the latest in digital technology,” Dato’ Sri Zainal said.

The main target buyers consist of middle-income earners and above, additional car

buyer or replacement car buyer for daily use or weekend trips.

Perodua also introduces the battery leasing concept known as ‘Battery as a Service’

whereby the car’s body is sold separately from the battery.

“This concept is our solution towards reducing owner’s anxiety when owning a

battery electric vehicle. By offering this service we will be able to offer a lifetime

guarantee on the battery for our customers’ peace of mind,” Dato’ Sri Zainal said.

The QV-E is in two colours, “Ice Blue” and Caviar Grey” and is only available at

selected Perodua outlets (listing available together with this media release).

A full list of the vehicle’s specifications and leasing battery explanation are available

together with this media release (down below).