KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's new vehicle sales plunged 95.7 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to 1,921 units in June 2021 from 44,755 units recorded in the same month a year ago, acording to the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA).
MAA said passenger vehicles (PV) accounted for the majority of sales volume in June 2021, with 1,841 units sold, while commercial vehicles (CV) accounted for 80 units.
MAA president Datuk Aishah Ahmad said the significant drop in sales were dragged by the nationwide total lockdown during the period, halting car dealers and production facilities as the automotive sector was not listed as an essential economic activity.
"Minimal sales recorded for June 2021 were spilled-over registrations from end of May 2021. Currently, only motor vehicle workshops are allowed to operate," she said in a virtual press conference today.
For year to date (June) 2021, registration for new car sales increased 43.5 per cent to 249,129 units compared to 173,545 units registered in the same period last year.
Of the total sales, PV accounted for 223,838 units and CV comprised 25,291 units posted in the first-half (1H) of 2021.
Meanwhile, production of new vehicles in June 2021 plummeted 99.4 per cent to 276 units from 45,044 units.
Total production of PV stood at 246 units and CV made up of 30 units.
YTD June 2021, total production of new vehicles increased 45.31 per cent to 241,288 units from 166,049 units produced in the same period previously.
MAA said sales in July 2021 is expected to be minimal as only showrooms in Sabah were allowed to operate under National Recovery Plan Phase 2.
"Vehicle assembly plants and component manufacturers situated in Selangor and certain localities in Kuala Lumpur are not allowed to operate during the Enhanced Movement Control Order period," it added.