KUALA LUMPUR (June 16): Vehicle sales in May 2017 increased by 13.3% year-on-year to 50,600 units from 44,668 units a year ago, according to statistics released by the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) this evening.

MAA attributed the improvement in sales to the boost from the pre-Hari Raya festive season and new model launches by certain car manufacturers.

For the period between January and May, total industry volume (TIV) for both passenger and commercial vehicles combined grew by 7.4% to 234,186 units compared with 218,121 units recorded in the previous corresponding period.

On a monthly basis, vehicle sales in May was 18% or 7,854 units higher compared with the figure in April, MAA said.

While the sales saw improvements, vehicle production in May fell marginally by 0.4% to 47,474 units from 47,650 units a year earlier.

This, according to MAA, was despite a y-o-y rise of 4.3% in passenger vehicle production (from 42,210 units to 44,034 units) as commercial vehicle production fell 36.8% from 5,440 units in May 2016 to 3,440 units in May 2017.

From January to May this year, total vehicle production climbed slightly by 0.5% to 223,139 units from 222,035 units in the same period a year ago.

On outlook, MAA said TIV for June this year is expected to remain the same as May’s level on the continuation of the Hari Raya festive season promotional campaigns as well as the shorter working month in June due to the holidays.

Meanwhile on Bursa Malaysia, three out of five watched automotive and automotive-related counters closed lower today, while the remaining two settled unchanged.

Tan Chong Motor Holdings Bhd dropped one sen at RM1.83 for a market capitalisation of RM1.19 billion; UMW Holdings Bhd, which distributes Toyota vehicles, lost six sen at RM5.95, valuing the group at RM6.95 billion; while Bermaz Auto Bhd was down two sen lower at RM1.99, for a market capitalisation of RM2.29 billion.

DRB-Hicom Bhd, which sold a 49.9% stake in wholly-owned Proton Holdings Bhd to China-based Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co Ltd last month, was unchanged at RM1.80 for a market capitalisation of RM3.48 billion.

MBM Resources Bhd also ended the day unchanged at RM2.25, valuing it at RM879.5 million.