Malaysian Auto Industry Endures Tough September

Malaysian new-vehicle sales slid 7.8% year-on-year in September to 40,981, and were off a dramatic 20.8% from the previous month.

Releasing the data, the Malaysian Automotive Assn. says the month-on-month drop was due to a short working month in September and more stringent vetting of loan applications.

Despite the slump, the year-to-date result remained in the black, up 1.8% at 425,711 units.

The association predicts sales will rise in October because of a longer working month.

Car sales fell 14.4% in September to 36,517 units for a 9-month total up 2.9% at 381,800 units.

Commercial-vehicle deliveries dropped 18.5% to 4,464 units during the month, leaving the year-to-date total down 7.3% at 43,911.

Production slowed in tandem with sales, off 7.8% for the month at 38,213 units. With nine months completed, the Malaysian build was down 1.5% at 381,171 units.

September’s new-car build was off 9.4% at 35,177 units for a 9-month total of 352,339 units, down fractionally from a year-ago 354,771.

CV assemblies rose 15.8% to 3,036 units in September, but were down 10.4% year-to-date at 28,832.