PERUSAHAAN Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua) will launch a competitively priced energy-efficient-vehicle (EEV) in the second half of this year, controlling shareholder UMW Holdings Bhd said.
UMW group president and chief executive officer Datuk Syed Hisham Syed Wazir said the EEV should help Perodua keep its lead in the domestic car market.
“Yes, it will be something related to that (EEV) that will be in Perodua’s new plant. They have mentioned that they have a new plant, and it will start production soon,” Syed Hisham said after UMW’s annual general meeting yesterday.
UMW, which owns a 38 per cent stake in Perodua, is confident that subsidiary UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd and Perodua will be able to maintain its strong market share this year, despite the total industry volume (TIV) forecast of only 2.3 per cent higher than last year.
The TIV for 2013 was 655,793 units with Perodua selling 196,071 units and UMW Toyota Motor 92,521 units (including Lexus) for a combined 44 per cent share of the total volume.
Syed Hisham said May sales figures had already exceeded the volume for the same period a year before.
He said the new National Automotive Policy is expected to not only intensify competition, but also result in a gradual reduction of car prices. This may result in pressure to reduce prices of automotive parts.
Meanwhile, Syed Hisham said the KYB-UMW Group — which manufactures automotive and motorcycle shock absorbers and power-steering pumps — posted higher foreign sales last year.
KYB-UMW replacement market is much bigger than OE (original equipment) market with the company catering to older Proton and Perodua models, he added.
The company hopes to achieve one billion units in 2014 from 800,000 units last year.
KYB-UMW is also the OE supplier for locally assembled Toyota vehicles.
Meanwhile, UMW group chairman Tan Sri Asmat bin Kamaludin said it sees an increase in exploration and production activities and spending, along with high demand for jack-up rigs in Asean.
“UMW Oil &Gas will be taking delivery of three new jack-up rigs in 2014. UMW-OG will also continue to pursue opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region as part of growth plan and revenue diversification strategy,” he said.
KUALA LUMPUR