COLOMBO: The Perodua Axia STYLE made its Sri Lankan debut at the Seylan Colombo Motor Show at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall, over the weekend.
The crossover-inspired variant of the facelifted Perodua Axia range, which launched in Malaysia in September, is priced at Rs 3.895 million (RM89,000) in the island nation.
The car proved to be a hit, as Perodua’s Sri Lanka distributor Unimo Enterprises began collecting orders during the show.
Deliveries are expected to begin early next year.
“SUVs and crossovers are enjoying a big rise globally, and we foresee the same trend taking hold in Sri Lanka,” said Unimo Enterprises chief executive officer and executive director, Mahesh Gunathilake.
Perodua president and chief executive officer, Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad, said: “As Sri Lanka is the Perodua brand’s biggest overseas market and one that has always been accepting of the Axia, with some 3,000 units sold since 2015, it is fitting (that it is the) new Perodua Axia STYLE’s first export destination.
“Sporting rugged-looking bumpers with skid plate elements, all-round body cladding, roof mouldings, a rear spoiler and striking 15-inch five-spoke alloys, the new Perodua Axia STYLE reflects owners’ active lifestyles, while retaining all the hallmark Axia qualities of practicality, fuel efficiency, spaciousness and ease to drive,” he added.
Unimo Enterprises has sold almost 16,000 Perodua cars since 1997. Its current line-up comprises the Axia and the Bezza – the latter is Sri Lanka’s best-selling new sub-1.0 litre sedan.
Meanwhile in Malaysia, over 2,000 STYLE vehicles have been delivered since its launch.
As for the entire 2019 Axia range, over 10,400 units have found homes out of over 20,000 bookings received to date.
Perodua aims to export 3,270 cars this year – a considerable 50 per cent more than last year’s 2,184 units.
Over 80,000 Perodua vehicles have been sold outside of Malaysia to date.