Malaysia to phase out CNG vehicles, cites safety concerns

The Malaysian government has announced plans to phase out the use of compressed natural gas (CNG) for vehicles and end the sale and registration of such vehicles.

Transport Minister Loke Siew Fook outlined several measures to eliminate CNG-powered vehicles due to safety concerns.

Starting July 1, 2025, no new registrations for CNG (referred to as NGV in Malaysia) vehicles will be allowed. Minister Loke emphasized that the decision prioritizes the safety of road users and the public. He also noted that CNG-powered vehicles make up only a small fraction of Malaysia’s transport sector, with about 44,383 units—approximately 0.2% of all vehicles, excluding motorcycles.

“The NGV tanks of these vehicles are now reaching the end of their service life and need to be replaced and NGV tanks typically have a safe usage period of 15 years,” Fook said.

The minister said the vehicles had caused explosions during accidents.

Malaysia introduced the use of CNG in the late 1990s.