Malaysian Auto Sales Growth Forecast

The Malaysian Automotive Assn. raises its full-year sales forecast following a 6.3% rise in first-half deliveries to 333,142 units.

The passenger-vehicle market rose 7.5% to 296,779 units, while the commercial-vehicle segment fell 3% to 36,393.

Local production was up 8.3% in the first half to 317,892 units, with passenger vehicles ahead 10.3% to 291,810, more than offsetting a 10.1% fall in CV production to 26,082.

The government news agency Bernama reports MAA, citing improving economic conditions, now predicts full-year sales will come in at 680,000 units, up from the 670,000 it predicted at the beginning of the year.

MAA says the economy is expected to maintain growth in line with the government’s forecast of an increase between 5% and 5.5% for the year.

“Consumer sentiment is expected to remain positive owing to the stability of the employment market and aggressive promotional campaigns by car companies,” MAA President Aishah Ahmad says in a statement.

The group forecasts a market of 693,500 units in 2015; 708,000 in 2016; 723,700 in 2017; and 740,400 in 2018.

Deliveries rose 9.2% in June to 58,561 units and Aishah says July’s volume is expected to be at a similar level.

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s first-half sales rose 24% year-on-year to 4,536, Bernama reports, with passenger vehicles accounting for 3,366 units.

“This uptrend is expected to continue into the second half,” President and CEO Roland Folger says. “It is a direct result of our various investments internally, as well as our extensive dealer network.”

BMW Group Malaysia’s deliveries rose 13% to 4,274 units, including 3,724 BMWs, 296 Minis and 254 BMW Motorrads.

CEO Gerhard Pils tells Bernama the growth was driven primarily by the BMW 3-Series and 5-Series.

“The BMW 3-Series and the 5-Series continue to be strong contributors accounting for over 66% of the company’s total sales in Malaysia with 2,056 units and 792 units registered, respectively, in the first half of 2014,” Pils says.

Ford says in a statement it had a record first-half result in Malaysia with sales climbing 25% to 6,520 units after June deliveries soared 58% to 1,307.