Malaysia LV Sales Up Despite Election Controversy

Malaysian new-vehicle sales jumped 9.9% in April to 52,489 units, despite the uncertainty of an election that retained the only party to rule the country since independence in 1957.

The Malaysian Automotive Assn. says car deliveries rose 10% to 45,564 units, while the commercial-vehicle segment climbed 9.2% to 6,925.

But the MAA says the April result was down 9% from the previous month because of uncertainty in the market over the general election, which the ruling party predictably won and the opposition just as predictably claimed was fraudulent.

“Sales volume for May is expected to be maintained at April’s level,” MAA says in a statement.

Malaysian production rose 13.2% year-on-year in April to 50,727 units with the passenger-vehicle segment rising 15.5% to 45,770, more than offsetting a 0.04% fall in the CV build to 4,957.

Perodua CEO Aminar Rashid Salleh claimed the sales lead for the auto maker, even though it makes only three brands – the Viva, Myvi and Alza.

He tells the government’s Bernama news agency that following the launch of S-Series variants to mark Perodua's 20th anniversary in March the auto maker had received 21,000 orders, and 13,000 have been delivered to customers.