Slow Start To 2021 Auto Sales

The Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) has released new vehicle sales and production figures, with January 2021 registering a total of just 32,829 units. 

Compared to the month of January of previous years, this figure is on average 25% lower. Sales of new vehicles during the same period last year was 42,942 units. 

The association also said that majority of the consumers brought their purchase forward as the announcement of the extension of the sales tax exemption was only two days before the scheduled expiry. 

MAA said, "The lower sales volume in January 2021 was attributable to the drop in traffic volume to showrooms due to the enforcement of the movement control order (MCO).” Production of vehicles also saw a big decline due to the MCO, with association members manufacturing just 39,666 units. 

Historically, monthly production figures are at its highest in January of each year, where the figure was over 68,000 units in 2018.

The association also expect lower figures for the month of February, due to the Chinese New Year holidays together with a shorter working month. 

MAA forecast the Total Industry Volume (TIV) for this year to be 570,000 units. The figure is an eight per cent increase over the TIV of 2020.