Vehicle Sales Continue To Decline In April 2009

KUALA LUMPUR, May 18 (Bernama) -- Motor vehicle sales continued to decline in April 2009, recording 41,135 units compared with 50,279 units in the same month last year.

The Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA), in releasing the figures today, attributed the lower sales performance to the unexpected increase in hire purchase loan interest rates.

On the outlook for May 2009, MAA said the sales volume is not expected to to improve due to the full impact of increase in hire purchase loan interest rates.

Year-to-date, vehicle sales declined to 159,818 units from 181,053 units, the association said in a statement.

Vehicle sales in April 2009 dropped by 3,070 units or seven percent compared to the previous month, it said.

Of the vehicles sold in April 2009, passenger cars accounted for 37,259 units while 3,876 units were commercial vehicles, it added.

Total industry production in April 2009 declined to 39,574 units from 42,335 units in the same period last year, MAA said.

Of these, passenger cars accounted for 36,562 units while 3,012 units were commercial vehicles, the association said.

Production in the first four months of this year comprised 138,890 passenger car units and 14,693 commercial vehicle units, providing a total of 153,583 units as against 175,079 units in the same period last year.

-- BERNAMA