KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's new vehicle sales rose 10 per cent to 71,052 units in March 2024 from 64,290 units in February 2024, according to the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA).
In a statement, the association said the higher sales were underpinned by a rush for deliveries by companies with their financial year ending on March 31, 2024, as well as Hari Raya festive season promotional campaigns.
Meanwhile, MAA noted that a total of 64,760 passenger vehicles were sold in March this year, a decline of nine per cent from the 70,940 units sold in March 2023.
Sales of commercial vehicles declined 21 per cent to 6,292 units from 7,941 units.
On a yearly basis, March's sales shrank 10 per cent to 71,052 units compared with 78,881 units in the same month last year.
Year-to-date sales volume for March 2024 was five per cent higher at 202,245 units than 192,615 units in the corresponding period last year.
In terms of production, MAA said 66,923 units of vehicles were produced in March 2024, a decline of 12 per cent from 76,069 units in March 2023.
Of that amount, 63,778 units were passenger vehicles, down by 11 per cent from 71,731 units in the same month last year.
The remaining 3,145 units were commercial vehicles, down by 28 per cent from 4,338 units previously.
On the outlook for April 2024, MAA expects sales to be lower than in March 2024, attributed to the shorter working month due to the Hari Raya festive holidays.