Perodua Retains Number One Automaker Title For Sixth Straight Year

Perodua is still the number one automaker in Malaysia, selling 180,000 units in 2011, maintaining that leading position for six consecutive years. Perodua failed to meet the targeted sales figure of 195,000 units, but it still managed to grab 30 percent of the local auto market whose total industry volume (TIV) fell below the 600K mark. In 2010, Perodua hit a record 188,600 units, which represented 31.2 percent of the overall market.

The top-selling model last year was the Myvi, Malaysians' all-time favourite, with 81,904 units, followed by the Viva with 60,675 units and the Alza with 37,402 units. Despite only being launched in Malaysia in June, the all-new Myvi attracted sales of 78,000 units thanks to a range that now includes 1.3-litre and 1.5-litre variants. The “Lagi Power, Lagi Best” Myvi 1.5 answers the need for more power, which, to many, was no more than modest in its predecessor.

Besides car sales, the aftersales service intake in 2011 was the highest-ever at 1.71 million units, and the spare parts sold last year were worth a record RM 205 million. Exports grew by 50 percent from 2010's 4,000 units to 2011's 8,000 units. Perodua currently exports to Singapore, Brunei, Mauritius, Fiji, Nepal, the United Kingdom and Sri Lanka, its largest market last year. Under Perodua's five-year strategic roadmap, the export sales target is set at 10,000 units for 2012, and 20,000 units by 2015.

2011 proved to be a difficult year for automakers including Perodua, whose supply of parts and components was affected by the triple disaster that inflicted Japan and the floods that inundated Thailand. Going into 2012, Perodua is cautiously optimistic, projecting a modest four percent sales growth to achieve a total of 188,000 units on the back of an expanding dealer network. Macroeconomic conditions such as slower growth, inflationary pressures, and a higher interest rate are cited as possible challenges, however.