Perodua to maintain performance

> National carmaker cautiously optimistic, on track to achieve sales target for year

KUALA LUMPUR: Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua), which is on track to achieve its sales target of 202,000 vehicles by year-end, is cautiously optimistic of sustaining growth in the remaining part of the year.

“Our market share is around 35.1% currently, and as far as we are concerned, we would like to defend that (amount of) market share for this year,” Perodua’s president and CEO Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh said at a media briefing last Friday.

“Under the current situation, we are cautiously optimistic that we will be able to achieve the 202,000 units sales target, driven by our ongoing sales campaigns,” he added, noting last year, Perodua sold 207,100 vehicles.

From January to June 2017, Perodua sold 99,700 vehicles, an increase of 2.4% compared to the same period last year of 97,400 units, with the Axia being the most popular model.

Aminar said the increase in sales during the first six months was due to aggressive sales campaigns initiated during the period.

Going forward, he said the group will focus on its current model line-up by offering attractive promotions for the consumers, and continue the initiatives to improve its after-sales business operations.

Aminar, meanwhile, said the group is currently studying the sports-utility vehicle (SUV) segment for its products line-up.

“SUV seems the ‘flavour of the day’, so it is something that we are looking at...whether to proceed or not, it depends on the study,” he added.

During the first half period, Aminar said the group observed that the total industry volume improved by 2.3% to 284,200 units, from 275,500 vehicles a year ago, as most auto players were clearing the carry over 2016 stocks with attractive discounts and over trade.

However, despite the improvement in sales, he said the group foresees the tighter lending guideline as still its greatest challenge, as most of its customers are first time buyers.

Meanwhile, Aminar said its export volume dropped 30%, mainly due to lower demand from Indonesia, noting Perodua shipped 1,854 units to six countries during the first half.

Moving forward, he said the group is looking to re-strategising its export plan in order to improve the volume.

Last year, Perodua exported 4,696 vehicles. Its export markets currently include Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Singapore, Fiji, as well as Brunei.

“The recent introduction of the Bezza in Mauritius and Sri Lanka has been well received with the model selling eight units and 79 units respectively,” Aminar said.