Vehicle sales up 31% to 65,499 units last month

The MAA said February sales are expected to be lower than January's.

PETALING JAYA: Total vehicle sales rose 31% year-on-year to 65,499 units last month from 50,168 units in the previous corresponding period, according to the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA).

However, it said sales in January were 16% lower than December 2023, which was at 78,398 units.

“The higher sales in December 2023 was due to companies ramping up delivery of vehicles to fulfill backlog orders,” MAA said in a statement.

The association said this was especially for companies with their financial year ending December 2023, adding that year-end bargains also helped to drive sales in December.

According to the MAA, a total of 59,394 passenger cars and 6,105 commercial vehicles were sold in January.

On its outlook for February, the MAA said sales are expected to be lower than January, due to the shorter working month as a result of the Chinese New Year festive holidays.

Malaysia’s total industry volume recorded an all-time high of 799,731 units in 2023 versus 721,177 units sold in 2022.