KUALA LUMPUR: Proton Holdings Bhd sells 9,440 new vehicles in May, a reduction of 37.1 per cent compared to April, resulting in a market share of 20.3 per cent.
Proton said following two consecutive months of strong sales where total industry volume (TIV) averaged over 60,000 units, Malaysia’s automotive industry had receded by about 20 per cent in May.
Up to the end of May, Proton’s total volume stood at 57,283 units with a year-to-date market share of 23.5 per cent, an increase of 2.4 percentage points over the previous year.
“Car sales in Malaysia dipped in May due to factors such as chip shortages and the implementation of MCO (Movement Control Order) in the middle of the month,” Proton Edar Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Roslan Abdullah said.
“Despite most industry players having healthy order books, most brands struggled to meet demand.
“For Proton, our numbers were high enough to retain second overall in the sales table and we also received a welcome boost from our export division who set a 98-month high despite restrictions on international shipping,” he added.
Proton said after becoming the overall market leader for April, the Saga relinquished its hold on the crown but still ended last month as the A-segment sedan sales leader with 3,786 units delivered.
The Saga is one of four Proton models that managed to lead their respective class.
Proton said its overseas sales efforts continued to gain momentum despite international markets going through varying degrees of lockdown.
With 669 units comprising of the Saga, X50 and X70 exported in May, the company’s international sales division recorded its best month since March 2013.
As a result, total export sales for 2021 are now less than 100 units behind the total for the whole of last year.
Proton said with a full lockdown coming into effect on June 1, car sales would effectively be suspended for at least two weeks and perhaps longer if the MCO was extended to lower the rate of infection.
“Unlike last year, service centres are allowed to operate so Proton will be accepting cars from customers who have pre-booked an appointment.
“The company will also be looking to utilise the break to retool its sales plan for the remainder of 2021, which received a boost with the extension of Penjana incentives until the end of the year, while also taking steps to future proof its business against regulatory changes and external factors such as the coronavirus,” it said.
Source: News Straits Times
Photo: themalaysianreserve.com
