New vehicle sales in Malaysia fell by 1.8% to 47,041 units in October from 47,880 units a year earlier, according to registration data released by the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA).
This was the third consecutive month of declining sales, bringing an end to the first half market rebound from a 13% drop in 2016 despite strengthening economic growth in the country.
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GDP growth in the first nine months of 2017 is estimated at 5.6%, compared with 4.3% in the whole of 2016.
Passenger vehicle sales fell by 2.0% to 41,668 units last month while commercial vehicle sales were 0.5% higher at 5,373 units.
Overall sales in the first 10 months of the year were just 1.4% higher at 472,752 units from 466,157 units in the same period of last year.
The association expects the market to strengthen in November, helped by the launch of new models and aggressive marketing by vehicle dealers and manufacturers.
Vehicle production in the country fell sharply last month, by 24% to 40,464 units, while cumulative output for the 10 month period was 4.2% lower at 421,635 units.
