July 2019 Malaysian vehicle sales go up by 19.5%

After a quiet June, car sales in the country picked up again last month. Data from the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) revealed that 50,853 vehicles were sold in July, 8,327 units – or 19.5% – more than the 42,526 units that were managed in June, aided by a longer working month.

On a year-on-year basis, however, the July figures are 25.7% lower compared to the same period last year, in which 68,466 units were shifted, a difference of 17,613 units. The strong performance in July 2018 can be explained by the zero-rating of the goods and services tax (GST), which saw a dramatic spike in car sales during the three-month tax-free period.

The year-to-date numbers of 347,187 units up to July is also slightly behind that of 358,065 units recorded in the corresponding period last year.

The association said the outlook for August should see sales volume at the same level as it was in July. The year-on-year numbers is expected to be lower than that of August 2018, which was the last month of the “tax holiday.”