The Malaysian government does not plan to extend the exemption of road tax for battery-electric vehicles in Malaysia past its present end date of December 31, 2025, the minister of investment, trade and industry Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz has said in a written parliamentary reply to Tebrau member of parliament Jimmy Puah Wee Tse.
Perusing the numbers from the cheapest EV currently on sale in Malaysia, the Neta V at RM100,000 OTR without insurance, the compact model with a 70 kW output (95 PS/160 Nm) will have RM40 in road tax imposed. From national brand Proton is the eMas 7 with 160 kW (218 PS/320 Nm), which all but matches the MINI Cooper SE with 218 PS and 330 Nm, therefore both of these will get a road tax bill of RM180.
The bestselling EV of 2024 in Malaysia, the BYD Atto 3 with its 150 kW (204 PS/310 Nm) powertrain, is up for RM160 in road tax. Towards the top end of the road tax price table, the Lotus Eletre R with its 675 kW (918 PS/985 Nm) will be tagged with RM4,890 in road tax.
Meanwhile, the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) has said in January that the tax break for fully imported EVs currently in place needs to be extended to 2030 in order to meet the country’s target EV adoption rate of 15% of total sales volume by 2030.
“EVs are still at the infancy stage. There is a need for the government to nurture and support the growth of EVs, especially in terms of incentives. So, the government should consider expanding the present tax incentive, especially for CBU EVs. Our feeling or alignment is at least until 2030, basically in line with the aspiration of the government to meet the 15% EV objective,” MAA president Mohd Shamsor Mohd Zain said in January.
The road tax exemption for EVs is of course separate from the current exemption of import duty and excise duty for fully imported (CBU) EVs, which is in place until the same date, December 31, 2025, while those of locally assembled (CKD) EVs are in place until December 31, 2027. This exemption for EVs in Malaysia was first announced during the tabling of Budget 2022 in October 2021, and took effect at the start of 2022.
UPDATE: EV Road Tax prices in Malaysia have been revised with a new calculation in June 2024. Please refer to the new calculation.
You must have already heard about the new road tax structure for electric vehicles (EVs), announced this week by the transport ministry. Set to be in place from January 1, 2026, the EV road tax structure replaces the previous template from 2019 and is meant to encourage EV adoption with rates that are comparatively lower than internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.
Unlike ICE vehicles that are taxed based on engine capacity, EVs don’t have engines, so what’s being measured with battery-powered cars are power, typically measured in kilowatts (kW) for EVs, as opposed to PS/hp, which is more common with ICE cars in Malaysia. One horsepower is equivalent to 0.746 kW, 100 hp = 74.6 kW.
The EVs are then grouped into different motor(s) output power bands, just like how it is with ‘cc’ for engines. We’ve already done a comprehensive explainer on the new EV road tax structure, and you can view it here along with a road tax list for all EVs currently sold in Malaysia.
The BYD Seal’s road tax starts from RM335 but nearly triples to RM965 if you go for the Performance AWD
But what about ICE vehicles, which the majority of Malaysians own, and will continue to own in the foreseeable future? Will there be a change in road tax calculation based on power instead of engine capacity? Unfortunately no, the government has confirmed. So, moving forward, EV road tax will be based on kW and ICE will continue with cubic capacity.
Which is antiquated. Even before EVs became mainstream here, holes have been punched through the cc-based ICE road tax format, first by downsized turbocharged engines and then plug-in hybrids. Both these powertrain developments ‘cheated the system’ with smaller capacity engines, supplemented by turbocharging or electric motors in the case of PHEVs to make up the power deficit.
Disparate examples include a RM90+k Nissan Almera paying the same RM20 road tax as a RM22k Perodua Axia E (both 1.0L), a Myvi paying the same as a far bigger and more powerful Honda HR-V Turbo (both 1.5L) and a Mercedes-Benz A200 (1.3L) paying less road tax than a Proton Persona (1.6L). A Toyota Camry owner forks out more for road tax than his friend with a BMW 530i too (RM867 vs RM379). An example of a small engine with very high output is the Mercedes-AMG A45S, which 2.0L engine puts out 421 PS. Not too long ago, you’d need a 4.0/5.0 litre engine to get that much power.
Theoretical road tax for ICE cars if based on power – click to enlarge
A power-based road tax structure would also cover hybrids and PHEVs better, as currently, the electrified power in those cars aren’t taxed. That’s exactly how we had a RM1.2 million BMW i8 with sci-fi looks and scissor doors liable for just RM90 a year in road tax (1.5L engine), while a similarly-priced Mercedes-AMG GT (4.0L V8) owner coughed out RM6.5k per annum.
And then there’s the topic of old cars. Remember the days when the number on a car’s boot lid corresponded with its engine size? Those cars – mostly European – are now affordable (to purchase) and many still have plenty of life in them with some TLC, but high road tax in relation to the car’s current value holds many back. Many such old cars with large engines (but relatively low power in today’s context) are abandoned because it costs so much to keep them road legal.
Take a look at the list we compiled, which compares an ICE car’s theoretical kW-based road tax (just like for EVs) versus their actual road tax. Save for a few outliers – mostly PHEVs or cars with downsized turbo engines – many cars would have lower road tax, some substantially so. The biggest difference came from the pick-up trucks (Hilux and Triton, over 80% less) and supercars/luxury cars from Ferrari and Rolls-Royce (Ghost -92.4%). Is your car in the list? Check out how much you’d have to pay if road tax is based on power.
The near-RM100k Almera is charged the same RM20 road tax as the RM22k Axia E in the cc-based system
We understand that road tax is a big revenue generator for the government, which collected nearly RM3 billion from vehicle owners last year from this avenue alone, so it’s definitely not in their interest to reduce road tax, especially for high-end cars. As for those who are saying that road tax for EVs is still too expensive, we hope that this little exercise have given you some context.
Instead, the kW-based road tax system is favourable to EV adopters, which is in line with the government’s green agenda. Take this system and apply it on ICE cars – which the authorities have said there are no plans to – and we can see that road tax for a big portion of cars on the road will come down. If anyone should complain…
It’s ICE drivers, who are paying a higher tax compared to a similarly-powered EV, and we’re not even talking about torque and acceleration, the actual things that make an EV feel way more ‘powerful’ than what their kW figure suggests. It would be fair if road tax for ICE and EVs are measured on the same stick, but we’re not hopeful that this will happen, for the above-mentioned reasons. The current rates for ICE cars “are already low and reasonable,” Anthony Loke said.
Suggestions? ICE cars could adopt a kW-based road tax structure, but with higher rates than the current EV template. This would future-proof the structure against downsizing and electrification engine developments, while charging powerful engines more (rightly so). Ditching cc for power may see road tax revenue drop, but this could then be balanced by high-powered cars (the main beneficiaries of kW-based road tax) consuming more petrol, which blanket subsidy will be removed anytime now. What do you think?
The new road tax structure will replace the previous one that was first determined in 2019 and serves to encourage EV adoption with rates that are comparatively cheaper when compared to internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.
At present, all EVs registered in Malaysia are not required to pay road tax until the end of 2025 as part of government’s incentives outlined in Budget 2022. If you’re curious how much you’ll be paying after December 31, 2025, you’ve come to the right place. But first, some explanation is needed.
What’s changed with the new EV road tax structure?
As with the previous EV road tax structure, the new one is still kilowatt (kW)-based and grouped into different motor(s) output power bands. With the older structure, EVs with outputs up to 80,000W (80 kW) are charged a flat rate of either RM20, RM44, RM56 or RM72. Above 80 kW, there are five power bands with differing base and accompanying progressive rates, the latter being a certain amount per 50W (0.05 kW) above the base power output of the band.
The new EV road tax structure also features various power bands, with the first ranging from 1W (0.001 kW) to 100,000W (100 kW). The minimum yearly road tax in this band is RM20, with every 9,999W (9.999 kW) block increment being charged an additional RM10.
Click to enlarge
Other bands will have their own minimum yearly road tax (the base rate) and pricing for each 9.999 kW block increment. Only at the very top is there a flat rate of RM20,000, although this applies to extraordinary EVs with a power output of at least 1,010,001W (10,100.01 kW) or more.
In way, the per block increment is similar to the progressive rate of the older structure, but is cheaper overall because the increment block is larger. For example, an EV with a power output of 100 kW is charged just RM70 with the new structure compared to RM274 with the old one – the latter figure is calculated by adding the base rate (RM224) of the effective band with the progressive rate – (100,000W – 90,000W)/50W x RM0.25).
How much will I be paying for EV road tax from January 1, 2026?
To determine the road tax payable, simply find out your EV’s nominal power output (not the figure with overboost, etc.) and see where it fits within the respective power band range. If the EV makes 155 kW, it would fall between the 150,001W (150.001 kW) and 160,000W (160 kW) range, meaning the road tax is RM180.
We’ve pulled power outputs of all EVs currently on sale in Malaysia as well as those expected to go on sale here soon to create this handy table for your reference. As you can tell, the amount payable is a lot cheaper than it was before, and we’ll use the BMW i4 eDrive40 M Sport as an example.
Click to enlarge
The i4 eDrive40 M Sport has a power output of 250 kW, which would have a road tax of RM3,724 with the old structure. Over 150,000W (150 kW), the calculation with the previous system would see the base rate (RM1,024) being added with the progressive rate, the latter being the amount of power above 150 kW, which is 100,000W, divided by 50W times RM1.35 to make RM2,700.
With the new structure, the BMW EV’s road tax is reduced to just RM395, which is a massive 89.4% decrease. The lowest powered EVs in our table are the BYD Dolphin Dynamic Standard Range and Neta V with 70 kW, which have a road tax of just RM40.
So, what do you think of the new EV road tax structure? Does it make EVs more enticing for you and will you be making the switch? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Originally scheduled to be announced sometime in April, the government has finally revealed the new road tax structure for electric vehicles (EVs), with transport minister Anthony Loke unveiling the new rates earlier today.
There’s good news for EV owners, because as promised, the new EV road tax isn’t just lower than the current structure that was first determined in 2019, it is cheaper than that for internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles (though not in the lowest part of the spectrum), very much aligned with the government’s policy on providing incentives to encourage the use of EVs, said Loke.
While all EVs registered in Malaysia presently do not pay road tax, given their exemption from this until end-2025, they will begin paying for it when the exemption period ends, with the new structure coming into effect on January 1, 2026.
Click to enlarge.
The new EV road tax structure is still kilowatt (kW)-based and grouped in motor output power bands, with the ministry saying that is the most relevant manner to go about determining things during a special presentation on the matter for selected members of the press late last week.
However, the intent has been to make the new structure as simple and easily understood as possible. As you can see in the slide tables, the new rates are significantly cheaper than that defined currently, with up to an 89% reduction (on average, 85%) in rates from the previously assigned ones, which are of course not being paid at the moment.
Under the new structure, each power band has its fees arranged in set blocks, with each 9,999 watt (or 9.99 kW) block adding on a set increment in each power band (as denoted in very general terms in the table above, for a more detailed breakdown, see the table at the end of the story). The new fees start at RM20 at the very lowest tier, from 1 watt to 10 kW, but this will never be applied given the output of EVs.
Click to enlarge.
At the highest point of the up-to-100,000 watt (100 kW) band, the rate increases by RM10 for every higher block of output, capping at RM70 at 100 kW. From the 100,001 watt to 210,000 watt (210 kW) band, road tax prices vary from RM80 to RM280, with a RM20 increase per 9.99 kW block within the band.
From the 210,001 to 310,000 watt (310 kW) band, road tax fees range from RM305 to RM575, with the subsequent block increment in it being set at RM30. As for the 310,001 to 410,000 watt (410 kW) band, expect to pay anywhere from RM615 to RM1,065, with each 9.99 kW block increase set at RM50.
As such, with 100 kW, the Kona e-Lite will pay RM70 for its annual road tax when things kick off at the start of 2026, as opposed to RM243 under the replaced structure. The Ora Good Cat 400 Pro and 500 Ultra (105 kW), along with the Nissan Leaf (110 kW), will pay RM80, while owners of the BYD Dolphin Dynamic Standard Range, at 70 kW, will have to fork out RM40 a year for their road tax. Go with a Neta V that also packs 70 kW and it is also just RM40. Sounds very reasonable, no?
Previous EV road tax structure as defined in 2019. Click to enlarge.
It is worth noting however that the government’s statement of EV road tax being cheaper than that for ICE vehicles only holds true running up the scale at this juncture, because at the very lowest end of the spectrum it really isn’t, until a passenger EV with an output of 50 kW or less shows up on the road in droves. Even then, it will be parity, as a 1.0 litre ICE vehicle pays only RM20 road tax per year.
Most premium EV offerings will also pay what should constitute very affordable rates for their road tax, with that for a Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+ being RM305 instead of RM2,779 on the old rate, and that for the BMW iX1 xDrive30 and xDrive40 at RM335 and RM365 respectively.
According to the ministry, Tesla Model Y and Model 3 Highland SR RWD owners will be paying RM305 and RM280, well under the nearly RM2.6k they would be paying if the structure was not revised. Elsewhere, those with vehicle models in the 300 kW output zone will have to dish out RM545 a year, surely preferable than the RM4,503 listed under the old structure.
As electric motor outputs climb, so do the rates, of course, and BYD Seal Performance buyers will need to plonk out RM965 a year (RM7,504 on the old rate), while Kia EV6 GT owners will pay RM1,240 (RM7,623 on the old structure).
About the only people who might (and this is a very big might, actually) feel any pinch would be Lotus Eletre R owners, who will be paying RM4,890 for their road tax annually. While the Taycan Turbo GT road tax as listed in the table is even higher, it should be a case of an erroneous kW input, as we were told by ministry officials that calculations are based on the nominal power output. With a 580 kW nominal output, the Taycan GT would pay RM3,065.
Some additional points gleaned during the announcement session at the transport ministry’s office in Putrajaya today. The new EV road tax structure will apply only to battery EVs and fuel-cell EVs (FCEVs), and rates will be applied in uniform fashion across the country, which means there is no price difference in the road tax for EVs registered say, in Sabah and Sarawak, compared to the peninsula.
Still on the matter of uniformity, the rates will be the same for individual and company/business registrations until further notice, said the ministry. According to Loke, the rates in the road tax structure will be reviewed every five years to ensure they are effective in achieving the objective of getting people to transition to zero-emissions vehicles.
Elsewhere, the rates for electric motorcycles remain unchanged, with the ministry saying that the existing rate of RM9 to RM42 for e-motorbikes is acceptably low enough. Also, persons with disabilities, whose road tax exemption was mentioned in Budget 2022, will also be exempted from paying road tax for one EV.
On the whole, the revised EV road tax structure should surely look a far sight better than the old one for most owners and those looking to adopt such vehicles. What do you think of the new EV road tax structure? Yay, or is there still some beef with the new rates? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of the new road tax structure for EVs effective from January 1, 2026:
UPDATE: EV Road Tax prices in Malaysia have been revised with a new calculation in June 2024. Please refer to the new calculation.
As more electric vehicles (EVs) begin to make their way into Malaysia, it seems a good time to update readers on the vehicle road tax structure for these, given the official introduction of the BMW iX xDrive40 EV SUV earlier today and to clear up why its road tax is priced as it is.
In 2019, we published a story highlighting that the road transport department (JPJ) was set to move towards calculating the road tax rates for full-EVs (both motorcycles and cars) based on their motor kilowatt output instead of the traditional engine cc displacement as previously utilised. The switch to this has been made, as reflected by the road tax rates of EVs launched since then.
The rates of the new kilowatt-based road tax for private saloon motorcars were highlighted in that story, allowing calculations to be made for probable EV models for our market based on their kW output, and this has been established with great accuracy (as in the case of the Porsche Taycan, for example).
UPDATE: You can now use our EV Road Tax Calculator to calculate how much you would have to pay for your EV’s road tax in Malaysia.
However, if you apply those specific rates for the iX xDrive40, the final calculation doesn’t match. Based on that table, it should be RM3,454, but the price list of the car states that the road tax is RM3,063, which is RM391 less.
So what gives? We reached out to JPJ, which said that the EV road tax rates are unchanged and follows that prescribed in the table, so there was nothing amiss on that front. As it turns out, the answer is simple enough. There is another set of road tax rates for other private vehicle types besides saloons (or sedans, if you will), which was not established in the story at that point.
The road tax rate for this differs from that for saloon motorcars, and completes the picture in establishing what the road tax will be EVs, based on their body-type. Before we head into a breakdown of the iX’s road tax, let’s recap the price structure of primary categories under the new kW-based system, including the one that wasn’t highlighted previously.
Click to enlarge.
For electric motorbikes (code AA), the road tax for such two-wheelers with an output rating of 7.5 kW and below will be set at a fixed rate of RM2.
For e-motorcycles with a motor output rated above 7.5 kW, the rate is calculated as:
Above 7.5 kW to 10 kW – RM9
Above 10 kW to 12.5 kW – RM12
Above 12.5 kW to 25 kW – RM30
Above 25 kW to 40 kW – RM40
For e-motorbikes with an output of above 40 kW – RM42
As for private saloon motorcars – individual (code AB) and company registration (AC) – with a rated output of 80 kW and below, the rates are as such:
50 kW and below – RM20
Above 50 kW to 60 kW – RM44
Above 60 kW to 70 kW – RM56
Above 70 kW to 80 kW – RM72
Vehicles with a rated motor output of above 80 kW will have a base road tax applied as well as a progressive rate calculated into the final sum. The road tax rate is calculated as follows, starting with a base rate and an additional rate for each kW increase:
Above 80 kW to 90 kW – RM160, and RM0.32 sen for every 0.05 kW (50 watt) increase from 80 kW
Above 90 kW to 100 kW – RM224, and RM0.25 sen for every 0.05 kW (50 watt) increase from 90 kW
Above 100 kW to 125 kW – RM274, and RM0.50 sen for every 0.05 kW (50 watt) increase from 100 kW
Above 125 kW to 150 kW – RM524, and RM1.00 for every 0.05 kW (50 watt) increase from 125 kW
Above 150 kW – RM1,024, and RM1.35 for every 0.05 kW (50 watt) increase from 150 kW
Now, we come to the part missing initially. For private vehicles aside from saloon motorcars (like SUVs) – individual (code AD) and company registration (AE) – with a rated output of 80 kW and below, the rates are as follows:
50 kW and below – RM20
Above 50 kW to 60 kW – RM42.50
Above 60 kW to 70 kW – RM50
Above 70 kW to 80 kW – RM60
Vehicles in this category with a rated motor output of above 80 kW will have a base road tax applied as well as a progressive rate added into the final sum. The road tax rate is calculated as follows, starting with a base rate and an additional rate for each kW increase:
Above 80 kW to 90 kW – RM165, and RM0.17 sen for every 0.05 kW (50 watt) increase from 80 kW
Above 90 kW to 100 kW – RM199, and RM0.22 sen for every 0.05 kW (50 watt) increase from 90 kW
Above 100 kW to 125 kW – RM243, and RM0.44 sen for every 0.05 kW (50 watt) increase from 100 kW
Above 125 kW to 150 kW – RM463, and RM0.88 sen for every 0.05 kW (50 watt) increase from 125 kW
Above 150 kW – RM903, and RM1.20 for every 0.05 kW (50 watt) increase from 150 kW
As you can see, the road tax rate for non-saloon private vehicles is lower from the baseline to above 150 kW (except in the 80 kW to 90 kW category, strangely, where it is RM5 more than for saloon-based EVs). Incidentally, this tax rate is shared with EVs used as driving institution vehicles.
With this, it’s easy to calculate the iX xDrive40’s road tax to that listed, which is not under the saloon category, but as non-saloon vehicle, given its definition as an SUV (it’s likely classified as jip – or jeep – under the department’s categorisation structure).
The iX xDrive40 has a 240 kW output. Based on the non-saloon rate, it pays RM903 (base rate up to 150 kw) and RM2,160 for the remaining 90 kW (at RM1.20 for every 50 watts more than 150 kW), which adds up to the RM3,063 road tax as printed.
Interestingly, the iX tax also highlights that the 50% road tax reduction for electric and hybrid cars announced by the PH government in 2019 may no longer be in place. Recipients of this incentive included the second-generation Nissan Leaf. The Leaf’s 110 kW motor meant that it would pay RM374 (RM274 base rate plus RM100 on the calculated increase from 100 kW) in road tax, based on the saloon motorcar rate. However, its road tax payable was RM187 when it was launched in July 2019.
Similarly, the Porsche Taycan also enjoyed the discounted rate at point of introduction here. For example, the Taycan 4S, with an output of 390 kW, has a road tax of RM7,504 (RM1,024 base rate plus RM6,480 as scaled on the 240 kW difference from 150 kW), but its payable road tax was RM3,752. It’s not known if this incentive is still in place.
There has of course been talk of zero road tax for EVs under the specific EV policy that will be announced by the government. The plan proposes the allowance for foreign automakers to bring in a number of completely built-up (CBU) units with zero excise and import duties (as previously reported), but also offering them full sales tax exemption and zero road tax. There is however no word on when the policy, which was supposed to have been unveiled in Q1 this year, will be announced.
Whatever the case may be, the full table now allows the calculation of EV road tax to be made for models sold here, according to vehicle type. As before, hybrids and plug-in hybrids (PHEV) will continue to pay road tax based on regular cc displacement for combustion engines, meaning there is no change no matter what kind of output their motors offer.
UPDATE: EV Road Tax prices in Malaysia have been revised with a new calculation in June 2024. Please refer to the new calculation.
It’s looking quite likely that owners of full-electric vehicles will be paying more for their vehicle’s road tax in the coming future, if what is apparently emerging is right. Word from the grapevine is that the road transport department (JPJ) will be moving to calculating the road tax rates for electric vehicles based on their motor kilowatt output instead of the traditional engine cc displacement as previously utilised.
This will effectively alter the payable road tax rate for EVs, which was initially drafted for calculation based on a kilowatt rate, and for which the table has been in place since 2011. According to JPJ sources, the rates for EVs were previously keyed in by clerks under the cc category during the vehicle registration, as a matter of familiarity. This is set to change.
A hint of the possible revision started last week, when a guideline on the calculation of the road tax for pure electric vehicles began to circulate around social media circles, with some thinking that this was a new, incoming rate. It turns out that it isn’t, and the document pages actually list the existing road tax rates for electric cars and motorbikes from before. But from what is being communicated, it seems that the switch will come about, although how soon remains to be seen.
Click to enlarge.
Let’s take a look at how the switch to kW-based input would pan out, price-wise. For electric motorbikes (code AA), the road tax for such two-wheelers with an output rating of 7.5 kW and below will be set at a fixed rate of RM2.
For e-motorcycles with a motor output rated above 7.5 kW, the rate is calculated as:
Above 7.5 kW to 10 kW – RM9
Above 10 kW to 12.5 kW – RM12
Above 12.5 kW to 25 kW – RM30
Above 25 kW to 40 kW – RM40
For e-motorbikes with an output of above 40 kW – RM42
For private saloon motorcars – individual (code AB) and company registration (AC) – with a rated output of 80 kW and below, the rates are as such:
50 kW and below – RM20
Above 50 kW to 60 kW – RM44
Above 60 kW to 70 kW – RM56
Above 70 kW to 80 kW – RM72
Vehicles with a rated motor output of above 80 kW will have a base road tax applied as well as a progressive rate calculated into the final sum. The road tax rate is calculated as follows, starting with a base rate and an additional rate for each kW increase:
Above 80 kW to 90 kW – RM160, and RM0.32 sen for every 0.05 kW (50 watt) increase from 80 kW
Above 90 kW to 100 kW – RM224, and RM0.25 sen for every 0.05 kW (50 watt) increase from 90 kW
Above 100 kW to 125 kW – RM274, and RM0.50 sen for every 0.05 kW (50 watt) increase from 100 kW
Above 125 kW to 150 kW – RM524, and RM1.00 for every 0.05 kW (50 watt) increase from 125 kW
Above 150 kW – RM1,024, and RM1.35 for every 0.05 kW (50 watt) increase from 150 kW
Given the dearth of fully-electric vehicles on the local scene presently, there won’t be much impact as yet, and even for existing EVs like the Nissan Leaf and Renault Zoe) there’s really not that much for owners to swallow. The Tesla Model S gets the biggest jump, although users won’t feel the pinch at all, since their cars are leased and the road tax is covered under the terms of the leasing agreement.
Some calculations to get an idea of what the going rates will be with the supposed new scheme, whenever that comes fully into play. The Zoe has a 65 kW (87 hp) output, so its ‘new’ EV road tax will be RM56. It currently pays RM28 in road tax based on the existing rate, according to a Zoe user.
The first-gen Leaf, which was introduced by Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) back in 2013, has an 80 kW motor, and will pay RM72 in road tax under the EV rate. The second-generation Leaf that is set to come to Malaysia later this year has a 110 kW motor, which means it would pay RM374 (RM274 base rate plus RM100 on the calculated increase from 100 kW) in road tax.
The cost jumps significantly with high output motors, with every kilowatt above 150 kW being charged RM27. The road tax for a facelifted Tesla Model P90D presently is a rather insane RM10, based on a 7.75 kW output (we have no idea how that figure came about).
Based on the new rate, the road tax for the S 90D, which has a 345 kW (463 hp) working output, will be RM6,289 (RM1,024 base rate plus RM5,265), while the S 70 RWD variant, which has a 235 kW (315 hp) output, will pay RM3,319 (RM1,024 base rate plus RM2,295). Meanwhile, the road tax for the base 270 kW (362 hp) version of the S 85 will be RM4,264 (RM1,024 base rate plus RM3,240).
Incoming cars like the Porsche Taycan, which has been confirmed for a 2020 arrival here, will also be paying a fair bit in road tax. With an output of 440 kW, the road tax for a base Taycan will be RM8,854 (RM1,024 base rate plus RM7,830 as scaled on the 290 kW difference from 150 kW), and likely higher for the Taycan 4S and Turbo variants. Of course, the sum doesn’t look like it will impact or affect any potential Taycan owners.
As it goes along, a trend may emerge with the electrification route in which most of the activity will involve offerings up to the 150 kW region. Hybrids and plug-in hybrids (PHEV) will continue to pay road tax based on regular cc displacement for combustion engines, meaning there is no change no matter what kind of output their motors offer. What do you think of the eventual switch to the road tax for EVs? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section.
