Perodua shuts Kelisa line

PETALING JAYA: National carmaker Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua) has stopped production of its Kelisa model and the Kancil will follow suit in a year. 

Perodua managing director Hafiz Syed Abu Bakar said the Kelisa, first produced six years ago, had not been made since December while production of the Kancil 660cc would continue for another year. 

Hafiz said he felt the newly launched Viva and Myvi, launched in 2005, would be able to take over from their predecessors and demand for the new models would continue to get stronger because they were affordable.  

Hafiz also said the waiting period for the Viva would not be long, unlike the Myvi, because 2,000 units had already been produced and that Perodua would be able to roll out about 8,000 units a month. 

“Since its launch on Thursday, about 2,000 bookings have already been made and we anticipate about 60,000 Viva cars to be produced by the end of the year,” Hafiz added. 

Early birds: Hafiz (centre) handing a mock key to new Viva owner Yeoh as (from left) Lok Chan Thai, Tan and Khew Siew Mee, who also got their cars at the branch in Petaling Jaya on Friday, look on.

He was speaking to reporters after handing over keys to the first four owners of the Viva at the Section 19 Perodua branch here yesterday. 

Among the first to receive the Viva was Rebecca Yeoh, who had no doubts over her choice. 

“I booked the car months before I even knew what it looked like. I’ve never owned a Perodua before and I’m really keen to finally have one,” she said. 

S.K. Tan, whose husband bought her a Viva, said she believed in Perodua’s reliability. 

“Perodua’s quality is quite consistent.  

“I got the car because it’s economical and I really like the look,” she added. 

Yap Chen Lin, 18, said the Viva would be his first car, courtesy of his father. 

“It’s probably better than the Myvi as it saves money and even petrol,” he said.  

“It even looks cute.” 

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