GWM Malaysia announced that it delivered 3,166 vehicles in the first six months of 2026, a 42.4% increase from the same period last year, placing the automaker among the top 11 best-selling vehicle brands in Malaysia by volume.

The company said sales accelerated through the first half, rising from 1,294 units in the first quarter to 1,872 units in the second quarter, a 44.7% increase quarter-on-quarter.

GWM Malaysia attributed the growth to performance across its vehicle lineup. The WEY G9 Hi4 plug-in hybrid electric vehicle grew from 421 units sold in the first quarter to 707 units in the second, which the company said kept it as the top-selling luxury multi-purpose vehicle in Malaysia among officially distributed original equipment manufacturer brands. The HAVAL H6 hybrid electric vehicle rose from 656 units to 895 units, remaining GWM Malaysia’s highest-volume model. The ORA GOOD CAT electric vehicle recorded 93% quarter-on-quarter growth, nearly doubling its quarterly sales.

“Our strongest-ever first-half performance reflects the growing confidence Malaysians have in GWM’s products, technologies and long-term commitment to the market. As we enter the second half of 2026, we remain focused on expanding our product portfolio, strengthening our presence in Malaysia and delivering even greater value to our customers.”

Stan Li Hao, managing director of commercial operations at GWM Malaysia

GWM Malaysia said it expects the momentum to continue into the second half of the year, citing rising consumer acceptance of hybrid technology, an expanding product lineup and what it described as a supportive policy environment for the automotive sector.

Following what the company said was a positive reception at the Kuala Lumpur International Mobility Show (KLIMS) 2026, GWM Malaysia said it is preparing to introduce two new models, the GWM ORA 5 hybrid electric vehicle and the GWM HAVAL H7 Hi4 plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. The company said its GWM TANK 300 hybrid electric vehicle is also expected to continue to gain in sales as more Malaysian consumers adopt hybrid vehicles.

GWM Malaysia said it welcomed the government’s decision to postpone implementation of PUA 402, a regulatory measure the company said would otherwise have affected vehicle pricing. The company said the postponement allows current pricing structures to remain in place for a longer period and said it believes the move will help sustain market confidence and support growth across the broader automotive industry. GWM Malaysia also said upcoming changes to the Hire Purchase Act are expected to improve transparency and accessibility in vehicle financing, which it said should further support consumer confidence and the wider automotive sector.

GWM Malaysia said it signed a memorandum of understanding with Touch ‘n Go Sdn Bhd aimed at integrating tolling technology into GWM vehicles. Under the agreement, every new GWM vehicle booked and registered from 1 Aug.ust 2026 onward will come with a pre-installed or bundled Touch ‘n Go x GWM branded RFID tag as standard equipment, which the companies said is intended to give customers cashless tolling from the start of ownership. The company noted the RFID tag program applies only to eligible vehicle registrations in Peninsular Malaysia. The partnership is also described as supporting Malaysia’s move toward Multi-Lane Fast Flow tolling, a highway toll-collection system designed to allow vehicles to pass through toll points without stopping.

“At GWM, our focus extends beyond building great vehicles. We are continuously exploring opportunities to enhance the ownership experience through products, services and strategic collaborations that add meaningful value for our customers. Our collaboration with Touch ‘n Go reflects that commitment by combining automotive innovation with digital mobility solutions to deliver a more connected, convenient and seamless ownership experience.”

Roslan Abdullah, chief operating officer of GWM Malaysia

“As digital mobility becomes an increasingly integral part of everyday travel, partnerships such as this play a vital role in making connected solutions more accessible to consumers. We are excited to partner with GWM Malaysia in simplifying the ownership journey through the installing or/and bundling of the Touch ‘n Go x GWM Branded RFID tag into every new GWM vehicle. We are grateful for GWM’s trust and collaboration, and look forward to delivering a more seamless, reliable and cashless driving experience for customers while supporting Malaysia’s digital mobility aspirations.”

Praba Sangarajoo, chief executive officer of Touch ‘n Go Sdn Bhd

GWM Malaysia said it will run a nationwide customer campaign from 1 August to 30 September 2026, tied to Malaysia’s Merdeka and Hari Malaysia celebrations. Customers who book a GWM vehicle during the campaign period and complete registration by 30 September 2026 will be eligible to participate, the company said. As part of the campaign, six customers selected through the program will be eligible to win up to RM1,000 in toll cashback; that portion of the promotion is limited to eligible vehicle registrations in Peninsular Malaysia and is subject to additional terms and conditions, according to the company.

GWM Malaysia said it will also offer savings of up to RM30,000 on selected models throughout August 2026, and that every new GWM vehicle purchased comes with five years of complimentary service maintenance.

The company said it will run an ORA 5 hybrid electric vehicle preview program at select GWM dealerships nationwide ahead of that model’s formal introduction to the Malaysian market. GWM Malaysia also listed two upcoming roadshow stops: Vivacity Megamall in Kuching, from 30 July to 2 August 2026, and the CarSifu Autoshow at Mid Valley Megamall, from 12 to 16 August 2026.

GWM Malaysia’s reported first-half growth comes as several automakers, particularly Chinese brands, compete for share in Malaysia’s expanding hybrid and electric vehicle segments. A 42.4% year-on-year increase in deliveries, if it holds up against final industry-wide registration data for the period, would represent a notably faster growth rate than the broader Malaysian vehicle market has posted in recent years, and would suggest GWM is gaining ground against both established Japanese and Korean brands and other newer entrants targeting similar price points and technology segments.

The company’s emphasis on hybrid and plug-in hybrid models, rather than battery-electric vehicles alone, reflects a broader pattern among automakers operating in Malaysia, where hybrid technology has generally seen faster consumer adoption than fully electric vehicles, in part due to charging infrastructure limitations and the driving ranges hybrids can offer without relying solely on charging networks. GWM’s decision to introduce new hybrid and plug-in hybrid models in the second half of 2026, rather than concentrating solely on battery-electric variants, indicates the company is positioning its Malaysian lineup around where near-term consumer demand appears strongest, a strategy other automakers in the market have also pursued.

The company’s public position on regulatory developments — including the postponed implementation of PUA 402 and pending changes to the Hire Purchase Act — points to two policy areas that carry weight across the industry rather than for GWM alone. Pricing-related regulations and financing rules affect affordability and access to credit for vehicle buyers broadly, meaning shifts in either area tend to influence sales volumes for automakers and dealers across brands, not just for GWM. Automakers and dealer networks in Malaysia have generally watched such regulatory changes closely given their potential to affect overall market demand.

For consumers, several elements of GWM Malaysia’s announcement carry more immediate, practical value. The postponed implementation of PUA 402 means current vehicle pricing structures remain in place for longer, which could keep near-term costs more predictable for prospective buyers. Similarly, the upcoming changes to the Hire Purchase Act, which GWM Malaysia said are expected to improve financing transparency and accessibility, could make it easier for buyers to understand and compare loan terms across dealers. The bundled Touch ‘n Go RFID tag, standard on new GWM vehicles registered from Aug. 1, removes a small but recurring setup step for buyers in Peninsular Malaysia, while the five-year complimentary service maintenance and the Merdeka-period promotions — including savings of up to RM30,000 on selected models — could lower the total cost of ownership for those who book within the campaign window. As with any promotional offer, buyers should confirm which terms apply to their specific model and registration timing before purchasing.

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Photos by GWM Malaysia, and the author’s own.