KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 29): Malaysia’s total industry vehicle (TIV) sales could decline for a second year in 2026, CIMB Securities said, on the back of potential hike in vehicle prices and excise duties in 2026. Sales could come in at 774,000 units in 2026, lower than the projected 790,000 this year, the research house said. Softer consumer sentiment amid inflationary pressures could also weigh on demand, it said in a sector note. CIMB, which is 'neutral' on the industry, said the projected slowdown in 2026 will be driven by the expiry of tax exemptions for fully imported electric vehicles (EVs) from January 2026. That said, TIV in the first 11 months of 2025 hit 727,834 units, down 1.2% from a year ago.

Source: The Edge Markets December 29, 2025 07:05 UTC