KUALA LUMPUR (July 14): Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua) recorded a 2.4% year-on-year increase in vehicle sales for the first six months of 2017 (1H2017).

In its performance review and briefing today, the car manufacturer said it posted sales of 99,700 vehicles in 1H2017, compared with 97,400 units. 

Sales for the period was spearheaded by the Perodua Axia, accounting for 32.7% or 32,600 units of Perodua's sales so far. 

Production in 1H2017, however, was down 2% y-o-y to 99,000 units, due to carry-over or unsold units as well as lower demand for its models from customers. 

Perodua aims to produce 197,000 units by year-end amid the tough economic environment. The target, it noted, is lower than the 213,000 units achieved in 2016.

Meanwhile on exports, the company has so far shipped 1,854 vehicles outside of Malaysia. Its export markets at the moment are Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Singapore, Fiji, Brunei and Mauritius. 

On its outlook, Perodua targets total sales of 202,000 units for 2017. Additionally, it foresees total industry volume (TIV) for the Malaysian market to register at 284,200 units for 1H2017, which it estimates to bring its market share for the period to about 35.1%.

"In this difficult time, we are going our way out to help improve the [automotive] ecosystem, especially in assisting our vendors in improving their businesses and cash flows. Nevertheless, we are cautiously optimistic of achieving our initial sales target of 202,000 this year," its president and chief executive officer (CEO) Datuk Dr Aminar Rashid Salleh said.