Malaysia now allows motorhomes to be registered for commercial self-drive rental. However, a 15-year age limit, high purchase and inspection costs, and unclear insurance details are expected to raise daily rental rates from 600 to 1000 Malaysian ringgit. The development of campground infrastructure and a service network is also seen as a multi-year challenge.

The OpenVan.camp editorial team analyzed 3,581 news stories from 56 countries in early 2026. Declining sales in Germany and the USA, Hyundai electric campers, budget Wuling motorhomes, KAMAZes with saunas in Russia, parking bans in Turkey — a comprehensive overview of motorhome industry trends by world region.

Despite policy support for motorhome self-drive rentals in Malaysia, the industry faces significant hurdles. A 15-year-old motorhome can cost over $25,000-$30,000, while daily rental rates of a few hundred dollars offer limited profit margins. With only about 1,400 motorhomes registered nationwide, the market size is too small to support a full industry ecosystem.

Malaysia allowed recreational vehicles to be registered for commercial self-drive rental starting in 2026, but the industry faces challenges. Rental prices are expected to rise due to a 15-year vehicle age limit and increased costs, while campsite infrastructure needs 5-6 years to develop. The lack of clear insurance mechanisms and skilled technicians also poses obstacles.

The commercialization of motorhomes faces significant after-sales challenges. The main obstacles are an underdeveloped maintenance system and a bottleneck caused by a shortage of skilled technical personnel.