KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) has revised downward the country's total industry volume (TIV) by 33.3 per cent from 600,000 units to 400,000 units this year.
This came after new vehicles sales volume plunged 59 per cent to 22,478 units in March from 54,776 units recorded in the same period a year ago.
MAA president Datuk Aishah Ahmad said the lower TIV forecast was hampered by the Movement Control Order (MCO), which was enforced since March 18, weaker consumer sentiment and economic downturn.
"Car dealers are not allowed to operate during the MCO. We expect car sales to gear up cautiously the scale once the MCO ends," Aishah told the New Straits Times when contacted today.
Passenger vehicles (PV) volume in March plummeted 60 per cent to 20,260 units from 50,101 units posted in the similar corresponding period last year.
Meanwhile, commercial vehicles (CV) were 52.5 per cent lower to 2,218 units from 4,675 units registered in March 2019.
MAA said the sales volume in March this year was at 22,478 units or 44.5 per cent lower than the 40,503 units recorded in February 2020.
Year to date, the sales volume for both PV and CV dropped 26 per cent to 106,428 units from
143,036 units recorded in the same period a year ago.
MAA expects no car sales to be recorded from early this month until April 28, as all showrooms were closed due to the MCO.