KUALA LUMPUR: UMW Group posted a surge in automotive sales to 9,512 units in August, a significant improvement over 2,105 units sold in the previous month, as its showrooms and automotive assembly plants restarted operations.
The August figures were based on about two weeks of operations, which resumed following the easing of the Full Movement Control Order restrictions on Aug 16.
"Both UMW Toyota Motor and its associate company Perodua registered improved sales in August despite operating for less than half the month," it said in a statement today.
UMW Toyota Motor delivered 2,524 units, 74% higher than 1,450 units in July, underpinned by sales of the Toyota Vios, Yaris and Hilux, which made up 69% of total sales for the month.
Year-to-date, UMW Toyota Motor has sold 38,085 vehicles, 20% higher than 31,734 units in the corresponding 2020 period.
Perodua meanwhile posted sales of 6,988 units in August, which was a significant improvement over 655 units in July.
Sales of the national marque over the first eight months of the year were 12.5% lower year-on-year at 104,933 units.
Consequently, Perodua cut its 2021 sales target to 214,000 units from the previous 240,000 units target.
"Currently, both marques have a healthy level of outstanding bookings, and will be focusing on ramping up production to ensure timely delivery to our customers whilst ensuring full compliance with the Standard Operating Procedures (“SOPs”).
"Our domestic parts and components suppliers have also resumed operations as well as having secured our planned Completely Knocked Down (CKD) parts to meet our customers’ demand," said UMW president and group CEO Datuk Ahmad Fuaad Kenali.
He added that he expects the automotive sales momentum to continue for the remainder of the year, especially with the extension of the sales tax exemption to Dec 31, 2021.
