KUALA LUMPUR, April 20 ― Vehicle sales in March rose 23.2 per cent from the previous month to 49,985 vehicles registered, according to figures released by the Malaysian Automotive Association.
March 2018 sales were also seven per cent or 3,733 units higher year-on-year, automotive website paultan.org noted in its report on the latest figures. Last year, 53,718 vehicles were delivered in the same month.
The longer working month of March likely contributed to the positive numbers as companies rush to send cars out to close books, the site said.
“The encouraging figures are largely due to March being a longer working month and companies rushing to deliver cars, specifically those that end their financial year on March 31,” the site said.
The number of passenger vehicles sold in March 2018 was less, however, than in March 2017.
Companies also posted lower year-to-date sales, with 135,140 units delivered as of March 2018. That translated to seven per cent or 5,700 lesser units delivered compared to the same period last year.
The sales figures are expected to remain more or less the same for April, the MAA said, as it predicted consumers to adopt a “wait and see” attitude ahead of the 14th general election.
Nomination for GE 14 will take place on April 28 and polling on May 9.
