Perodua eyes rise in 2021 car sales as output seen rising to record high

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 3): Perodua said today the car manufacturer aims to sell 240,000 vehicles in 2021, a 9% increase from the 220,163 units sold in 2020 on strong demand for its existing models and the extension of the sales tax exemption in Malaysia.

In addition, with 2020 ending better than previously expected for both Perodua and the automotive industry, the company said today it plans to boost its 2021 car production target to 272,000 vehicles, the highest in the group’s history.

“With the extension of the sales tax exemption to end-June 2021, recent Covid-19 vaccine developments and all our models continuing to be in demand, we believe 2021 will be the year of recovery,” Perodua president and chief executive officer Datuk Zainal Abidin Ahmad said in a statement today.

“This (production) increase will replenish our stock to ensure brisk delivery this year,” Zainal Abidin said.

According to Perodua’s statement, the company sold 240,341 vehicles in 2019.

For 2020, Perodua said the 220,163 units sold during the year comprised 66,330 Myvis, 59,651 Axias, 56,996 Bezzas, 22,494 Aruz, 14,691 Alzas and “one other model” against a total industry volume of 529,434 units for a 41.6% share in the Malaysian automotive market.

Meanwhile, Perodua’s 2021 production target represents a 23% increase over the 220,968 units manufactured in 2020, according to the company.

The company said today that with all its models having over 90% local parts content, the carmaker remains the biggest buyer of automotive components in Malaysia.

Zainal Abidin said in the statement that with the estimated recovery of Perodua’s sales volume, the compact car maker is expected to purchase a record RM6.5 billion worth of locally sourced components in 2021.

According to him, Perodua expects its service intake to grow 20% from two million units in 2020 to 2.4 million units in 2021, comprising both current and new customers.

Source: TheEdgeMarkets