Malaysian Market Drops, But August Rebound Expected

Malaysian new-vehicle sales fell 6% year-on-year in July to 50,252 units, but demand is expected to climb this month with the Hari Raya Aidilfitri holiday season.

Often abbreviated to Eid, the festival is a 3-day Muslim celebration that marks the end of Ramadan.

Myvi sales helped propel Perodua gains.

July volume was up 20% from the 41,790 units sold in June as the supply situation has improved with the industry recovering from the impact of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami in March.

The Malaysian Automotive Assn. says after seven months, sales of 347,455 units were down 2% from prior-year’s 354,598 units, The Star newspaper reports.

The car segment saw 44,835 units sold in July, down from 48,144 year-ago. The commercial-vehicle sector, at 5,417 units, was up marginally from 5,339 in like-2010.

July production declined to 53,453 vehicles, down 7.8% from prior-year’s 58,004, MAA data shows.

Car production fell 8.1% to 49,270 units in July, while CV output dipped 4.4% to 4,183.

Year-to-date production is off 7% at 326,852 units.

Perodua raised its July sales 85% from the previous month to 16,500 units, a surge Managing Director Aminar Rashid Salleh credits to demand for the new Myvi 5-door hatchback and a faster-than-expected recovery of production, currtailed by the shortage of parts from Japan.

“We are grateful for (customers’) patience in waiting for the delivery of their vehicles as we sorted out the production backlogs,” Aminar says in a statement.

Year-to-date, Perodua sales are down 14% to 95,900 vehicles.