The Kuala Lumpur International Mobility Show (KLIMS) 2026 officially flagged off at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) on 11 June 2026, marking the event’s 11th edition as Malaysia’s premier international automotive showcase. Organised by the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) and managed by Qube Integrated Malaysia Sdn Bhd, KLIMS 2026 runs under the theme “Beyond Mobility,” with global and local brands presenting what organisers describe as the next phase of sustainable and innovative mobility.

The flag-off ceremony was officiated by Deputy Minister of Transport YB Datuk Haji Hasbi bin Haji Habibollah, who spoke about KLIMS’s role as a platform for discussion on green mobility, electric vehicle (EV) adoption, emissions reduction and the shift toward cleaner transportation. Also present were Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability YB Tuan Syed Ibrahim bin Syed Noh and Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry Secretary-General YBhg Datuk Hairil Yahri Yaacob.

Organisers positioned the show as tracking the automotive industry’s shift from traditional transportation toward sustainable mobility solutions, with a focus on new energy technologies. They said KLIMS 2026 is aligned with Malaysia’s energy transition goals, promoting adoption of electrified vehicles, or xEVs, and green technology while highlighting the sector’s role in economic growth. By bringing together local manufacturers, small and medium enterprises and global players, organisers said the event reinforces Malaysia’s position as a regional hub for automotive innovation.

“Around the world, we are witnessing rapid advancements in electrification, connected technologies, intelligent transport systems, automation, road safety, and alternative energy solutions. These developments are reshaping how we design vehicles, build infrastructure, and plan our cities. As we speak about the future of mobility, safety must remain at the centre of our agenda. New mobility must not only be cleaner and more connected; it must also help reduce crashes, protect vulnerable road users, and support safer behaviour on our roads. Together, we can move Malaysia–beyond mobility.”

Deputy Minister of Transport YB Datuk Haji Hasbi bin Haji Habibollah

“In recent years, the mobility industry has shifted to beyond transportation. Today, mobility is no longer just about how people commute, it is a reflection on how cities function and how technology connects communities through smarter and more sustainable solutions. KLIMS 2026 continues the same theme, ‘Beyond Mobility,’ representing the transformation of the automotive industry from traditional transportation into a broader ecosystem with intelligent mobility solutions. We continue to see the shift of Malaysians towards adopting new technology and improved innovations in their everyday lives.”

Mohd Shamsor bin Mohd Zain, MAA president and chairman of the KLIMS 2026 Organising Committee

The show features exclusive model previews, new car launches and concept vehicle showcases from 18 automotive brands, alongside lifestyle activities and showcases for visitors. A prize draw worth a combined RM125,000 is also part of the event, with a Perodua Bezza as the grand prize. KLIMS 2026 runs from 12 to 21 June 2026 at MITEC, with tickets and visitor registration available through the show’s official website.

For consumers, the most immediate value of KLIMS 2026 is the chance to compare a wide range of vehicles, including a growing number of electrified models, in one place rather than across multiple dealership visits. That comparison comes at a moment of change in the EV market: the duty-free period for fully imported electric vehicles ended on December 31, 2025, meaning CBU EVs brought in from this year onward are subject to import duty, excise duty and sales tax, with the exact rate depending on the country of origin. Industry figures have said price adjustments tied to the new duties are likely to show up gradually as existing tax-free inventory is sold through, which means buyers attending the show may still encounter older pricing on some imported EV stock even as newer arrivals carry higher costs.

The event also gives buyers a more concrete sense of how mobility options are expanding beyond the vehicle itself. With locally assembled EVs and hybrids increasingly available from national and Chinese-linked brands, and electrified vehicles having roughly doubled their combined market share over the past two years, more Malaysians are likely to encounter EVs and hybrids as mainstream options rather than niche purchases. At the same time, public charging infrastructure remains short of government targets, a factor that may continue to shape whether buyers choose a fully electric vehicle or a hybrid as their next car, regardless of how many models are on display at MITEC.

KLIMS 2026 arrives as Malaysia’s broader new car market cools after a record year. The MAA expects total industry volume to ease to roughly 790,000 units in 2026, down from an all-time high of 820,752 units in 2025, citing moderating economic growth and cost pressures. Against that softer backdrop, electrified vehicles have been the market’s clearest growth segment: EV sales rose sharply in 2025 and hybrid sales also climbed, together accounting for a larger share of the overall market than in previous years. That divergence helps explain why an event built around “green mobility” carries weight beyond marketing language — the segment it highlights is one of the few still expanding while the rest of the industry levels off.

The show’s emphasis on collaboration between manufacturers, SMEs and global players also reflects a wider repositioning underway in the region. Malaysia has continued to draw investment from Chinese automakers expanding completely knocked-down, or CKD, assembly operations locally, supported by tax incentives for domestically assembled EVs that remain in place for now. Government policy continues to target a rising share of electrified vehicles in new car sales over the coming decades, even as infrastructure rollout and affordability remain works in progress. For an event now in its 11th edition, KLIMS’s continued backing from government ministries and its expanded scope under the “Beyond Mobility” theme suggest organisers see the show less as a one-off launch platform and more as a recurring barometer of how the country’s automotive policy and consumer demand are converging, or diverging, year to year.

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Photos courtesy of KLIMS