IT was expected. Year 2002 was indeed a record-breaking year for the automobile industry. Vehicle sales grew 9.7 per cent to 434,954 units. This year too in terms of volume, most expect sales (in units) to reach an all-time high (with one or two contrarian points of view), with an estimated growth of 3.5 per cent to 4 per cent.
The Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) expects a 3.5 per cent growth in sales to 450,000 units this year. (The MAA had earlier forecast an 8.5 per cent increase in sales in 2002. That prediction has turned out rather conservative given that sales had risen 9.7 per cent over the year.)