Vehicle sales performance in Malaysia, 2018 vs 2017 – a look at last year’s biggest winners and losers

Vehicle sales performance in Malaysia, 2018 vs 2017 – a look at last year’s biggest winners and losers

Now that the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) has released vehicle sales data for the whole of 2018, it’s time to take a look at how the industry performed, and to identify the top players for the year that has passed.

Overall, the total industry volume for 2018 ended at 598,714 vehicles, which is an increase of 22,089 vehicles from the 576,625 units that was achieved in 2017. This improvement is likely attributed to the tax holiday period that car buyers enjoyed following the change of government in May.

During that time, the goods and services tax (GST) was revised from 6% to 0% from June 1, and remained that way for three months before the implementation of the sales and services tax (SST) on September 1, 2018.

Click to enlarge

Focusing on individual brands, Perodua had a rather prosperous 2018, registering 227,243 vehicles compared to 204,887 vehicles in 2017. The national carmaker also managed to further increase its market share to 42.6% from 40.3%, meaning every two out of five passenger cars sold in Malaysia last year was a Perodua model.

Coming in second place is Honda with 102,282 units, which is a lower figure from the 109,511 units it recorded in 2017. Despite the drop (also in market share), Honda remains the top non-national car brand on the list.

Also sharing a similar predicament is third place Proton with a total volume and market share of 64,744 units and 12.1%, both lower figures than what it achieved in 2017.

Just like in 2017, Toyota remained fourth with 43,446 units (8.1% market share), which is a decline from 47,615 units (9.3% market share) previously. Rounding up the unchanged top five list is Nissan, which experienced a gain from 19,949 units (3.9% market share) in 2017 to 21,956 units (4.1% market share) in 2018.

Further down the list, Mazda climbed to sixth place in 2018 (15,765 units, 3% market share), pushing Mercedes-Benz (13,118 units, 2.5% market share) down into seventh place, followed by BMW (12,008 units, 2.3% market share) in eighth place. Both German luxury car brands had a good year in 2018, with gains in both total volume as well as market share.

Others that cracked the top 10 are Volkswagen (7,001 units, 1.3% market share) and Kia (5,658 units, 1.1% market share), both gaining in the number of vehicles sold and market share (unchanged in VW’s case).

Click on the table below to view an enlarged version.

Vehicle sales performance in Malaysia, 2018 vs 2017 – a look at last year’s biggest winners and losers

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Gerard Lye

Originating from the corporate world with a background in finance and economics, Gerard’s strong love for cars led him to take the plunge into the automotive media industry. It was only then did he realise that there are more things to a car than just horsepower count.

 

Comments

  • Of the top 4, all the other brands with SUV dropped in anticipating X70 launch. Too bad due to Gov delays in price setting (Gov says need to up price), deswai it launch so late in mid Dec. With 15,000 X70 bookings and more coming, this will be a gud opportunity for P1Geely partnership to began blooming.

    P1, Geely, Mesidis, VolvoCar, VolvoTrucks, Lotus > all

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 39 Thumb down 15
    • Projohn Celup Teh on Jan 23, 2019 at 3:16 pm

      The real game changing sales performance! Habisla Proton always “red down” arrow!

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
    • palehotak on Jan 23, 2019 at 3:24 pm

      Agreed. Faster make booking b4 car price go up

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
    • Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia on Jan 23, 2019 at 3:28 pm

      By looking at the sales table above, Habisla…?
      A. Toyota!
      B. Honda!
      C. Nissan!
      D. Proton!
      E. Hyundai!

      Explaination :
      Smart people choose D and also D is the correct answer. People who choose D have the potential to enter Harvard University!

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 5
    • newme on Jan 23, 2019 at 3:32 pm

      You sure it’s the gov fault and not Proton’s incompetency that causes the delay?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Mat Jenin on Jan 23, 2019 at 4:02 pm

      Still arrogant and delusional.

      Don’t ask for bailout again, okay!

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Habislah proton. Hidup perodua

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 25
    • Man Salah! on Jan 23, 2019 at 3:06 pm

      Habislah perutdua. Hidup proton

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
    • MoFaz on Jan 23, 2019 at 3:23 pm

      Punch drunk. they became delusional; got drunk on own KoolAid and got carried away, it had become so detached from reality ,

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Sohai (not ori) on Jan 23, 2019 at 11:23 am

    TOYODA CANNOT SELL DUE TO PREMIUM PRICING WITH TIN KOSONG,padan muka

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 34 Thumb down 43
    • JOACHIM on Jan 23, 2019 at 3:18 pm

      Without Hilux commercial sales, Toyota is going down the drain real quick. No wonder their troll got so much free time ‘talking’ to his dupes.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • newme on Jan 23, 2019 at 11:52 am

    I can see Proton sales has been stabilized with Geely on board, drop 8% only. 1 year drop 1 position.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 2
  • Green Dog on Jan 23, 2019 at 11:53 am

    As usual Honda is always showing off to Proton, Volvo, Mazda, Toyota, Volvo, Mercedes and other carmakers.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 13 Thumb down 4
  • Audi -78.6% OMG!
    BMW – double digit growth
    Mercedes – Only single digit growth

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 2
  • M.Mazlan on Jan 23, 2019 at 11:55 am

    Proton Arena is commercial vehicle.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 1
  • Zuchie on Jan 23, 2019 at 11:56 am

    Audi biggest loser. What happen to them?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0
  • P1fansi on Jan 23, 2019 at 11:59 am

    2019 milik proton

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 7
    • newme on Jan 23, 2019 at 3:43 pm

      Ini ayat orang kampung. Mana you tau milik Proton, 2019 baru mula. Dari dulu lagi, Asia BMW, game changer, selling company …tapi macam tu jugak. Satu tahun jatuh satu tangga.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • Murphy and Bros on Jan 23, 2019 at 12:04 pm

    22k Hiluxes sold in 2018, Hilux still king

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 1
  • Roti john Sdn Bhd on Jan 23, 2019 at 12:10 pm

    Biggest winner : Perodua
    Biggest loser : Proton

    Habisla ProJohn

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 13 Thumb down 16
    • Perodua only growth 10.9%, how can it be a biggest winner, even BMW growth higher at 13.1%!
      How can Proton a biggest loser at -8.8%, Hyundai already at -28.2%!
      If you want to bash also have to use brain a bit lah.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Habislah Toyota. Jualan semakin lama semakin kurang.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 25
  • Projohn is falling down (London Brigde) on Jan 23, 2019 at 12:19 pm

    Proton sales is falling down,
    Falling down, falling down,
    Proton sales is falling down,
    John menangis.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 15
  • Semi-Value (Member) on Jan 23, 2019 at 1:16 pm

    nissan improved their market share by doing nothing.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 27 Thumb down 0
    • Nissan improved by throwing prices. TCMH shares still making losses.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • john - Pendekar Keyboard on Jan 23, 2019 at 3:13 pm

      It is because Protong salesman goyang kaki, lepak, typing in Paultan.org and minum teh 20X. That is why Nissan sales can increase by doing nothing

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
    • Boggles the mind, so many nutcases buying crap nissans. But of course not as many dumbos buying a china brand.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • benzs on Jan 23, 2019 at 1:32 pm

    Result will proved Malaysian choice for buying car. P2 always being bashed but its still top choice and Honda beat other JPN brand due to Honda improvement in term of car design, safety and engine+gearbox.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 10
  • benzs on Jan 23, 2019 at 1:44 pm

    Even u add up all the decrease sales which is in red color also cannot cover up improve sales by P2. Wonder those buyer have switch to P2. P2 is strong, but always beware of those competitor. Look at Apple this day, 1 Trillion company value last year and now become 700++ billion. Never feel proud and relax if company making profits. Should always stay alert.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
  • YB Albert on Jan 23, 2019 at 2:03 pm

    Hyundai and Peugeot…just dismal results
    Toyota without commercial vehicles…another shocking downward spiral
    Protong…just counting on some X70…the bleeding continues
    Perodua…another BLOCKBUSTER achievement.But the prices are too high for sub compact Axia and Myvis.
    Even tan Chong improve sikit,but still playing catch up.
    At just over half a juta units for cars…where is the justification for protiga?The pie is getting smaller for all with unwanted Protiga gate crashing in.
    Just madness to launch protiga with a trillion Rm debt.
    Why PH supporters so damn quiet?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 2
    • Mr. Octopus on Jan 23, 2019 at 4:09 pm

      What does politics have to do with ppls purchasing decision on a particular brand?

      Even if for whatsoever reason politics influences brand choise, there were 2 different govt on the 1st and 2nd half of 2018.

      Please enlighten me if I am not aware of something…

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
    • intermilan on Mar 04, 2019 at 12:03 am

      Peugeot sales actually increased by almost 20%. Way better than overall market performance. They even achieved this when their cheapest model i.e. 208 is on its last leg. From this angle how can say its a dismal result?
      Hyundai having a bad year I can agree.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • bieight on Jan 23, 2019 at 2:07 pm

    this data included recon cars??

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • madakni on Jan 23, 2019 at 2:57 pm

    im not sure who is dumb here, the writer or the readers. im pretty sure the top 10 is isuzu and mitsu. not vw and kia

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
    • Mr. Octopus on Jan 23, 2019 at 4:14 pm

      The dumb one is you. VW and Kia is in the Top 10 for Passenger Vehicles segment.

      PT have always written their articles focusing on passenger vehicles for the longest time.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
    • U dumb…top table is only passenger vehicle, not including commercial vehicle
      Bottom table is all vehicle

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
    • Yep. You. on Jan 24, 2019 at 1:27 am

      Nope. It’s you, who is unable to read in context.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Crasher7 on Jan 23, 2019 at 3:27 pm

    Just look at Audi lol

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • john syok sendiri on Jan 23, 2019 at 4:16 pm

    the malaysian have spoken based on 2018 data…talk kok
    , like and dislikes here by cybertroopers never helps…ever change the truth…dreaming for 2019?let’s wait and see…opsss

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Sohai (not ori) on Jan 23, 2019 at 5:56 pm

    Aiyo brother and sisters, the X70 IS NOT A VOLUME SELLER for P1 and it cant sustain long term sales once euphoria faded…P2 monopoly so noting to shout about cannot compare wit Nokia Aplle they fight in open market worldwide

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Fred chan on Jan 23, 2019 at 7:05 pm

    Don’t see great wall haval model or there is but under which company

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Chimali on Jan 23, 2019 at 7:45 pm

    Mana brand Maxus G10?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • DARREN SEOW on Jan 23, 2019 at 9:02 pm

    The No.1’s volume is almost No.2, 3 and 4 combined!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • The biggest blow was to Audi, had a really bad year 2018…..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • How can we get the model breakdown details for each car brand?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Erik Wong on Jan 08, 2020 at 3:36 pm

    Hey Paul Tan,

    Where did you get the car breakdown data?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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