Raising exports
THE new Perodua Myvi is a car that had garnered more than 5,000 bookings even before it was unveiled to the public on Thursday. Sneak previews and details of the car and what it contains has whetted the interest of prospective buyers, who have been enticed by what the car has to offer at the price it is selling.
At first glance, the price and the equipment that comes with the car have made it an interesting option for many prospective car buyers who either own a Myvi or are looking to purchase a new car. For one, at its price point, the Myvi certainly offers technologies only found in more expensive cars.
For Perodua, the prospects of upgraders makes it an enticing sales winner. Perodua has sold more than one million cars and for just over a decade until the introduction of the Axia, the Myvi was Perodua’s best-selling car.
The management of Perodua says that it will make 5,000 Myvi cars a month, but in the initial period from the launch of the car, demand for the car will certainly keep the factories and component suppliers busy in the months ahead.
But what that car will certainly do in the future is to see Malaysia, and Perodua, boost export sales to regional markets in the months and years ahead. Given the price of the Myvi, the cost proposition for the electronics that come with the car will certainly make it the prime candidate for Perodua to start exporting the Myvi to regional markets in South-East Asia.
Exports certainly have to feature in the long-term plans for any manufacturer, given how domestic sales have stagnated in recent years. Living costs and the rollout of better public infrastructure make owning a new car slip a notch down in terms of priorities for households in Malaysia. However, if there ever is going to be a car that can compete with global marques in the regional markets on a price point to start with, then the Myvi certainly has the makings of being a winner for Malaysia when it comes to exporting cars in large volumes. The hope is that with Geely now starting to make cars for Proton, that will follow suit and address a glaring weakness in the country’s automotive sector for decades.