In BMW, Cars, Hybrids, EVs and Alternative Fuel, Local News / By Matthew H Tong / 24 October 2017 6:17 pm / 43 comments

BMW Group Malaysia has announced that it has assembled and delivered over 4,500 units of hybrid vehicles to date. The electrified line-up is comprised of the 330e, X5 xDrive40e and 740Le xDrive, all of which are assembled locally and recipients of the Energy Efficient Vehicle (EEV) incentive.

The PHEVs represent a whopping 50% of cars the company has sold to date (from January 2017), which is the highest share of hybrids in the world for the BMW Group in terms of percentage. To that end, Malaysia is the leading market in ASEAN and the fifth largest hybrid market in the world for the Bavarian company. Malaysia is also the second largest market in the world for the X5 xDrive40e. So much for poor economic sentiments, eh?

Similarly, BMW Group Malaysia’s managing director and CEO, Han Sang Yun said global sales of hybrid BMW models in the first three quarters of 2017 have already exceeded the record achieved throughout the whole of 2016. “In the month of September, electrified vehicles sales topped the 10,000 mark for the first time in a single month. Here in Malaysia, we are the most successful premium hybrid brand,” said Han.

Favourable hybrid-friendly tax incentives brought about a unique situation in Malaysia, where the BMW 330e, X5 xDrive40e and 740Le are all priced lower than their petrol-only alternatives. For example, the 740Le is priced at RM598,800, with a whopping RM255,000 saved from tax breaks. The petrol-only 740Li goes for RM788,800.

This isn’t specific to BMW either. Back in 2014, it was revealed that 47% of all Audi A6 Hybrids built globally were sold right here in Malaysia.