The Malaysia Car of the Year Awards 2024 (MCOTY) honored the finest achievements in Malaysia’s automotive industry, spotlighting innovation, sustainability, and engineering excellence.
Held at Menara MITI, the prestigious event brought together car manufacturers, industry professionals, and policymakers to recognize the country’s advancements in mobility.
Organized by Mobility Media and co-hosted by the Malaysia Automotive, Robotics, and IoT Institute (MARii), MCOTY showcased vehicles and individuals setting benchmarks for Malaysia’s automotive future.
BYD Seal Premium (Extended Range) Makes History
This year’s ultimate accolade, the Overall Car of the Year, was awarded to the BYD Seal Premium (Extended Range)—the first electric vehicle (EV) to claim this prestigious honor. The BYD Seal impressed judges with its sleek design, exceptional performance, and eco-friendly engineering, symbolizing a shift towards sustainable mobility in Malaysia.
Transformative Leadership in Sustainability
The Automotive Person of the Year award went to Mohamad Reza Bin Abdul Mutalib, a trailblazer in advancing sustainable transportation in Malaysia. Known for his efforts in introducing four EV-focused car brands to Malaysia, Reza laid the foundation for the country’s EV infrastructure with the launch of First Energy Network in 2014. His leadership continues to inspire Malaysia’s transition toward greener mobility solutions.
Judging Process and Key Criteria
The MCOTY Awards followed a rigorous selection process led by experienced automotive journalists and industry experts. Judging criteria included Appearance, Safety, Ergonomics, Value for Money, Practicality, Performance, Energy Efficiency, and Warranty, ensuring only the most deserving vehicles and individuals were recognized.
Record-Breaking Year for Malaysia’s Automotive Industry
Malaysia’s automotive sector achieved a milestone in 2024, with Total Industry Volume (TIV) expected to surpass 800,000 units. This growth reflects the nation’s adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), autonomous technologies, and energy-efficient vehicles (EEVs). The automotive sector’s progress solidifies Malaysia as a leader in green mobility and automotive innovation within ASEAN.
Leadership Remarks
Deputy Prime Minister, YAB Dato’ Sri Haji Fadillah Haji Yusof, emphasized Malaysia’s commitment to renewable energy transitions as part of its ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025. He called on car manufacturers to adopt eco-friendly practices and invest in green technologies to align with sustainability goals.
CEO of MARii, Azrul Reza Aziz, highlighted the awards’ broader focus on recognizing excellence across the entire automotive value chain. He reaffirmed Malaysia’s vision to become a regional hub for Next-Generation Vehicles (NxGVs) under the National Automotive Policy (NAP 2020).
2024 MCOTY Category Winners
Overall Car of the Year: BYD Seal Premium (Extended Range) EV
Crossovers
- RM200K & Below: Smart #3 Pro
- RM200K – RM500K: BMW iX1 eDrive20 M Sport
Hatchback
- Volkswagen Golf R
MPV
- Toyota Alphard AH40 2.4 Turbo
SUVs
- RM200K & Below: Honda CR-V 1.5 V Turbo
- RM200K – RM500K: Volkswagen Touareg R-Line 3.0 V6 TSI
- Above RM500K: Lotus Eletre
Sedans
- RM200K & Below: BYD Seal Premium (Extended Range) EV
- RM200K & Above: BYD Seal Performance AWD EV
Trucks
- Ford Ranger Platinum 2.0L Bi-Turbo Diesel
xEV
- Below RM150K: Chery Omoda 5e EV
- RM150K – RM300K: BYD Seal Premium (Extended Range) EV
- Above RM300K: Lotus Eletre
Special Recognitions
- Best Value for Money Car: Proton S70 1.5 Flagship
- Best Selling Car Brand: Perodua
- Most Energy Efficient Vehicle: Perodua Bezza
- People’s Choice: Ford Ranger Platinum 2.0L Bi-Turbo Diesel
- Outstanding Dealer – 4S Award: Ngu Chung Beng & Sons Corporation Sdn Bhd (PERODUA 4S Dealer)
- Best EV-Friendly Property Developer: SP Setia
- Best Local Automotive Supplier: Multi-Code Electronic Sdn Bhd
- Automotive Supplier of the Year: Aptiv Malaysia Sdn
- Excellence in Automotive Sustainability Management: Northport
- Special Mention for EV Motorcycle Adoption: BlueShark
The Malaysia Car of the Year Awards 2024 not only celebrate the best in the industry but also inspire innovation, sustainability, and excellence, ensuring a bright future for Malaysia’s automotive sector.
