Perodua expects challenges in H2

PETALING JAYA: Despite record sales in the first half of the year, Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua) anticipates a challenging second half (2H18) . Even so the local carmaker is maintaining its sales target of 209,000 units by the end of 2018.

In a statement, Perodua president and chief executive officer Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh said that the compact car company is also maintaining its production target of slightly over 215,300 vehicles this year, which is a 7.5% increase compared with 200,100 vehicles made last year.

On a year to date basis, Perodua sold 117,100 vehicles for the first six months of 2018, 17.5% up on the 99,700 units sold in the same period last year and a half-year record for the carmaker.

Against a 289,700-unit 1H18 total industry volume, Perodua took 40.4% market share, also a half-year record.

“Due to the increase in sales, Perodua has also increased its vehicle production to 109,000 units between January and June 2018 which is an increase of 10% compared with 99,000 units in the same period last year,” Aminar said.

He said that Perodua purchased some RM2.28bil from vendors for the first six months of this year, which is a reduction from RM2.33bil in the same period last year.

The decrease in the amount is due to forex rate savings enjoyed in the first half of the year despite the increase in volume, he added.