Myanmar’s automotive industry In Transition.

A decade ago, the car market in Myanmar was dominated by imported used cars from Japan – but the market transformed after 2017 when the government implemented stricter rules for importing cars. Locally assembled car maker Suzuki became major player in the new cars market only for a short period as their operations were disrupted since early 2021, and all production halted in 2022 due to supply chain disruptions.

The Myanmar automotive market underwent another fundamental transition in recent years as adoption of electric vehicles accelerated due to incentives including tax breaks and reduced import duties for electric vehicles. The landscape is now dominated by Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers, with BYD leading, followed by MG, Leap Motor, and Neta.

MSR has been studying the market for many years by talking to vehicle retailers, car owners and non-owners about transportation needs, path to purchase, selection criteria, model evaluations, brand images and purchase triggers – to mention a few.