March vehicle sales vroom past February volume

Car sales will drive demand for Oceancash Pacific's felt products

KUALA LUMPUR: Sales of vehicles rose 26.5% to 53,717 units in March from February due to the longer working month and as companies -- with their financial year ending March 31, 2017 -- rushed for deliveries, a trade body said.

The Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) said on Tuesday it expected sales volume in April to be maintained at the March level.

Underpinning the sales growth would be promotional campaigns by the car companies, says the MAA.

MAA added the March vehicle sales were also higher than a year ago, registering a 10% growth of 4,929 units than a year ago.

The March 2017 sales of 53,717 units comprises of 48,355 cars and the rest were commercial vehicles. 

Year-to-date, total industry vehicle sales rose  7.3% to 140,839 units comprising 127,530 passenger vehicles and 13,309 commercial vehicles from the 131,251 units in the previous corresponding period.

The MAA data also showed that production rose to 49,356 vehicles in March this year, an increase of 3.2% from 47,810 units a year ago. Passenger vehicles totalled 45,124 units and commercial vehicles at 4,232.