January vehicle sales up 1%, says MAA

By BERNAMA | 18 February 2015


KUALA LUMPUR: Total vehicle sales in January inched up by only one per cent or 329 units to 50,602 units from the 50,273 units recorded in the same month last year, the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) said.

However, the sales volume for the month was 22 per cent lower than the previous month due to excessive year-end offers given by car companies in December 2014.

"The announcement that car prices would be lower once the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is implemented had caused consumers to hold back purchases," MAA said in a statement here Tuesday.

The sale of passenger vehicles in January decreased to 44,697 units from 44,702 units in the same month last year.

In contrast, commercial vehicle sales increased to 5,905 units from 5,571 units in January last year.

Meanwhile, total vehicle production went up to 56,654 units in January from 55,503 units registered in the same month last year.

Passenger vehicle production grew to 52,387 units from the 50,874 units.

However, commercial vehicle production fell to 4,267 units from 4,629 units.

On outlook, the MAA said the sales volume for February is expected to be lower than January because of a shorter working period, the result of Chinese New Year festive holidays.

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