KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 5): Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua) is expecting to breach the RM5 billion mark in annual purchase of parts and components this year.

Its chief executive officer Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh said the purchase figure — from vendors comprising 90% local firms — is in tandem with Perodua's 2018 sales target, which has remained unchanged at 209,000 units.

"Between 2015 and 2017, Perodua purchased between RM4.8 billion and RM4.9 billion worth of parts a year," he told reporters at the Perodua Chinese New Year Luncheon with the media and business partners here today.

"We expect to breach the RM5 billion mark this year with better demand for our latest offering, as well as our current model line-up," he added.

The country's biggest automotive player sold 17,693 units in January 2018 — up 25% from 14,203 units in January 2017 — against an estimated total industry volume of 43,930 units, accounting for its highest-ever monthly market share of above 40%.

Over half — or 9,029 units — came from the third-gen Myvi, which has received overwhelming 48,000 bookings since its launch in November last year. Perodua said all its models have retained their leads in their respective segments in Malaysia, with 4,085 Axias, 2,776 Bezzas and 1,803 Alzas sold last month.