After the annual year-end frenzy, January is traditionally a slow hangover month. And the numbers just released by the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) support it – at 44,575 units, vehicle sales for January 2018 were down 19% (10,154 units) compared to December 2017. Jan 2018 figures are also 0.2% lower (92 units) than those recorded in the same month last year.
Here’s a quick breakdown of how the auto brands performed last month. After the expiration of year-end promos, most of the market leaders saw a decline – Perodua -12.3%, Honda -27.5%, Toyota -50.8% and Nissan -11.3% were among those, although Proton’s -0.4% drop was minimal. Elsewhere, BMW (-16.8%), VW (-42.4%), Subaru (-40.5%), Volvo (-56.1%) and Audi (-34.8%) also saw lower sales.
The few brands that bucked the trend were Mazda (+82.8%), Peugeot (+37.5%) and Mitsubishi (+21.5%), along with premium segment leader Mercedes-Benz (+6.0%).
This is the first set of monthly data from the MAA this year, and it no longer lists Lamborghini, Chery and Yutong, brands that have resigned from auto club. New entries include Chinese brands King Long (you might have seen the name on buses), JAC and CAM. Click on the chart below for a larger view.
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AI-generated Summary ✨
Comments reveal skepticism about the sales performance of various brands like Audi, Volvo, and Proton in Malaysia, with many claiming brands like Audi and Volvo are struggling or dying due to poor sales and quality issues. Proton's sales are viewed as stable but still relatively low, with some attributing its performance to fleet orders or loyal customers. Perodua's Myvi maintains strong demand, with long waiting lists and high production capacity, overshadowing Proton. Many express disdain for Japanese brands like Toyota and Honda, criticizing their engines and sales declines. There are discussions about brand perceptions, quality, and market competition, with some highlighting that foreign brands are outperforming local ones, and concerns about economic and industry fundamentals affecting sales despite positive economic indicators. Overall, sentiments are mixed but tend toward pessimism for higher-end brands and optimism for Perodua.