Malaysia Motoring Industry

Like always, Malaysia's motoring is industry is plagued by AP and high import taxes of foreign cars. However with the recent great news of tax exemption of hybrid cars with an engine of 2.0 or lower, Malaysians are seeing a light of hope at the end of the tunnel.

Sadly, that's far from the case

Recent launch of the Toyota Prius, one of the most lovable car to hate by car enthusiast is finally on our shores. Price? In US, it's $22,800. Here? RM175,000. In the Free World currency, that's $54,000. Ok fine. Considering the fact that it takes money to ship it over pirate infested waters, let's just assume it's $10,000. So $44,000? Feels like highway robbery to me.

Most recent Lexus CT200h. $29,120 vs RM 168,000. I'm not going to do the bashing, let your mind do it.

UMW is the real axis-of-evil. So what I suggest is buy their stocks, cause they are going to profit like crazy. This is to compensate your lost if you bought a car from them.


One thing I notice apart from hybrids is

Inspira vs Lancer, the real thing.
Inspira is made in a country where it's GDP is less than that of where Liberty stands. Some more its presumably Buatan Malaysia. Comparing both models prices, RM78,999 vs $14,790, one would think why Proton is charging the rakyat extra after all they are the main culprits on imported cars being expensive in the first place. Is it because it 'Engineered by Lotus' badge with a tuned handling cost $10,000?  So far this is not an issue to Malaysians at all though.

Malaysians being Malaysians just naively accepts everything without thinking. Not implying you of course, I'm implying on the ones who watch RTM TV1 & TV2 everyday and thinks parliamentary members aka wakil rakyat must be escorted by dozens of police traffic and cause massive traffic jam.


Thankfully though, the there seems to be a little light of hope after all. From Honda. At least they are not massively blood sucking Malaysians.

Starting at the price of RM98,000 is slightly acceptable compared to $19,800. Minus this and that and that into pockets, Honda seems to be the light among the darkness, hopefully. Just wait till they bring in the CR-Z hybrid and then we can justify their direction in Malaysia.


This kind of price trend will be ongoing even if AP is abolished in the future. This is just the start.

Dear Tun Mahathir, this is one of your failures, don't forget. Thanks to you car prices are skyrocketed in line with the trend that harga minyak naik, semua naik. Harga minyak turun, takda turun , even if AP is remove in the future. Vroom Vroom