KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 18): Malaysia's vehicle sales rose 1.4% to 56,092 units in November 2015 from 55,314 units in the same month last year, the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) data showed, but the pace of growth slowed from the 3% year-on-year increase seen in October 2015.

On a sequential basis, total industry volume (TIV) in November was 0.5% higher from 55,754 units in October.

Passenger car sales rose 1.49% to 49,348 units in November from 48,622 units in the same month last year, while commercial vehicle sales increased 0.77% to 6,744 units from 6,692 units in November 2014.

In a statement today, MAA said the higher sales in November were driven by aggressive year-end promotional campaigns by many players and announcements by automotive companies of price increase in 2016.

MAA said total vehicles produced in November rose 5.86% to 50,203 units from 47,422 units in the same month last year.

Passenger vehicle production in November grew 6.67% to 45,747 units compared with 42,884 units in November 2014, while commercial vehicle production fell 1.81% to 4,456 units from 4,538 units the same month in 2014.

Year to date, however, TIV fell by 0.75% to 597,273 units from 601,827 units in the same month last year.

For passenger cars, MAA said the sales in the January-November 2015 period dropped 0.5% to 530,166 units from 532,825 units a year ago, while commercial vehicle sales slipped 2.74% to 67,107 units from 69,002 units in November 2014.

Year-to-date production came in 4.4% higher at 569,374 units compared to 545,352 units a year earlier.

For passenger cars, MAA said production rose 4.81% to 522,712 units from 498,684 units a year ago, while commercial vehicle production fell by a marginal 0.01% to 46,662 units from 46,668 units in November 2014.

On the outlook for December 2015, MAA expects sales volume to be maintained at the November 2015 level.

"This will be supported by the continuation of aggressive year-end promotional campaigns, especially by a number of players which have their financial year ending Dec 31, as well as consumers buying forward (in) anticipation of a car price increase in 2016," it added.