What do petrol heads buy online?

Most of us are aware of the expansion that the local e-commerce landscape has been going through of late. For example, the number of Malaysian rural and community businesses participating as Shopee Marketplace sellers has increased 7.5-fold since January 2020 till March 2022.

Meanwhile, more and more Malaysian shoppers are purchasing items online for products that they would usually look for in a physical shop. This includes, among other things, car and motorcycle parts and accessories. 

So, what exactly do petrol heads mostly spend online?

Here’s a glimpse into the top selling items from January 2022 till April 2022 on Auto Mall, a one-stop centre on Shopee for automotive products, knowledge, deals and more. 

Auto Mall product	No. of units sold from Jan 2022 - Apr 2022
Car tissue box holder	>79,000
Car and motor engine oil	>69,000
Batteries	>26,000
Motorcycle tyres	>19,000
Motorcycles	>900

Car tissue box holder - Sales recorded increased by over 3 times in April 2022 compared to when Auto Mall was introduced in November 2021

Spills on the seat or breadcrumbs on the car mat can sometimes happen if you’re not too careful. It is no surprise then that tissue boxes are a common sight in our cars.

For practicality, many drivers have been purchasing car tissue box holders on Shopee. These holders make car interiors look neater and more organized. Over 79,000 units of the product have been sold on Auto Mall from January 2022 to April 2022.

Engine Oil - More than 69,000 units sold on Auto Mall from January 2022 to April 2022

An essential part in keeping an engine running at peak performance is a high-quality engine oil that has good cleaning power. Riders and drivers have been turning to Shopee for their engine protection needs, with a wide variety of engine oil brands and types available on offer.

Batteries - Over 26,000 units of batteries were sold on Auto Mall from January till April this year

Not many things are more frustrating than failing to start your car or motorcycle due to a flat battery when you’re rushing off for work. Shopee users are doing their best to not be caught in that situation by purchasing premium, long lasting batteries on the platform.

Motorcycle tyres - Over 19,000 motorcycle tyres sold on Auto Mall from January till April this year

Something rather big and bulky such as tyres have usually been bought at physical tyre shops. However, the increased popularity of e-commerce has shifted consumer preferences, leading many Malaysians to prefer the convenience and ease of purchasing motorcycle tyres via the click of a few buttons.

Maxxis and Corsa are examples of popular brands, with silicone wax also highly sought by those particularly keen on keeping their tyres and rims shiny on the road.

Motorcycles - Sales recorded increased by more than double in April 2022 compared to November 2021

Beyond just parts and accessories, motorcycles have also been frequently purchased. Having a motorcycle is handy when it comes to making those short trips nearby and navigating tight city streets. More than 900 units of motorcycles were sold on Auto Mall in the first four months of 2022.

Popular motorcycle brands on Shopee include Yamaha, Modenas, Honda and Vespa. Users have the option of buying motorcycles in cash or by paying the booking fee, then paying the rest of the amount via a loan.

On Auto Mall, on top of products from trusted car and motorcycle brands and exclusive deals and vouchers, Shopee users can find various resourceful information such as tips on tyre care, latest fuel prices and blog articles on automotive topics.

Speaking on how Auto Mall has propelled their business, BateriHub stated, “Previously, we were more focused on offline retail outlets before the Covid-19 outbreak. When we started out on Shopee in late 2020, we had achieved over RM1 million sales in one year. Recently, after joining Auto Mall, our exposure improved greatly. The number of visitors to our store has increased by 25 percent in a month. Being in Auto Mall, we get to feature our products to more specific groups of potential buyers that share a similar interest in automotive goods.”

Guan Hoe Penang, who operates the Yamaha Official Store on Shopee, was able to diversify their business channels through the platform. “In the first year, we were able to hit above the RM500,000 mark, selling motorcycles, motor oils, spare parts and riding gear. Since the start of 2022, we joined Auto Mall, which helped boost our monthly sales by 30 percent. On top of assisting us in achieving higher store traffic, Auto Mall also enables us to have a dedicated site to showcase our best deals,” it said.