Malaysia's new vehicle market rebounded strongly in September, by almost 43% to 44,666 units compared with weak year earlier sales of 31,241 units, according to registration data released by the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA).
The strong rebound follows sharp year on year declines in the previous three months from strong year earlier sales when the market was lifted by a three month sales tax holiday introduced at the beginning of June 2018.
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Sales of passenger vehicles jumped by 49% year on year to 40,266 units in September while commercial vehicles sales were up by just 4.3% at 4,400 units.
Total vehicle sales in the first nine months of the year were just 2.6% lower at 442,991 units from 454,855 units previously, with passenger vehicle sales down just slightly at 404,119 units and commercial vehicle sales down by over 22% at 38,872 units.
Proton sales, including exports, almost doubled to 8,934 units in September from 4,524 units sold in the same month of last year reflecting strong demand for the Geely-based X70 SUV launched at the end of last year and the recent launch of the new Saga small car.
In the first nine months of the year the brand's sales reached to 70,330 units.
Total vehicle production in the country was just slightly higher year to date, by 1.3% at 426,041 units from 420,498 units in the same period of last year.
