Vehicle sales fall 4% in February, improve outlook for March

MBM

KUALA LUMPUR: Vehicle sales fell 4% to 40,578 units in February 2018 from a year ago and the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) expects the sales to be better in March 2018.

“Sales volume for March 2018 is expected to be slightly better than February 2018 due to longer working month as well as rush for deliveries by companies haviung their financial year-ending on March 31, 2018,” MAA said in a statement. 

The trade body said on Monday sales volume in February was 1,877 units lower than similar corresponding month in 2017.

It said the sales volume in February was 9%, or 3,997 units lower than January 2018. It attributed the lower sales to shorter working month due to Chinese New Year festive holidays. 

Of total sales in February, 36,623 units comprised passenger vehicles, while the remaining 3,955 units consisted of commercial vehicles.

Year-to-date, total industry volume was 2.2% lower at 87,153 units compared with 87,122 units in the similar corresponding period in 2017.

Production was lower at 38,416 units in February 2018 compared with 43,127 units a year ago. Year-to-date, vehicle production jumped 20% to 106,418 to 88,659 units a year ago.