Malaysia LV Sales Climb By Double Digits in May

New-vehicle sales rose strongly in Malaysia in May, with the result up 13.2% to 50,600 units for a year-to-date tally ahead 7.4% at 218,121.

The Malaysian Automotive Assn. says car sales finished 17.1% above year-ago’s pace at 45,139 units, while commercial-vehicle deliveries fell 11.0% to 5,461.

Five-month car sales were up 8.8% at 210,410 units, but CV deliveries were off 3.8% at 23,776.

The MAA says in a statement the market was driven by a boost from the pre-Hari Raya festive season marking the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, as well as new model launches.

Production in May dropped 176 units year-on-year to 47,474 for a 5-month total of 223,139, up fractionally from year-ago’s 222,035.

The car build rose 4.3% in May to 44,034 units for a year-to-date total of 206,859, up slightly from 205,265 assembled in the same period last year.

CV output fell 36.8% in May to 3,440 units, leaving the 5-month total down 2.9% at 16,280.