Auto sales forecast at close to 600,000 units this year

Proton’s much-hyped B-segment sport utility vehicle (SUV) X-50 model

KUALA LUMPUR: New vehicle sales in the country are expected to hit close to 600,000 units in 2021, fuelled by the sales and service tax (SST) exemption effect and new launches, according to Maybank Investment Bank (IB) Research.

The SST exemption which is 100% for locally-assembled cars and 50% for fully-imported vehicles, was recently extended until June 30,2021.