Honda Malaysia Sdn Bhd achieved a record-breaking increase in sales of 19 per cent last year with sales of 109,511 units.

It is the highest in the history of Honda Malaysia since it was established in 2003.

In a statement, the company said it was the first time that Honda Malaysia achieved sales of more than 100,000 units.

The overall sales for 2017 increased by 19 per cent compared to the 91,830 units recorded in year 2016.

"This sales figure is also the highest that a non-national brand has ever achieved in Malaysia," read the statement.

Out of total sales, the central region contributed the highest percentage of sales at 47 per cent, followed by the southern and northern regions.

Honda Malaysia managing director and CEO, Toichi Ishiyama said, “The year 2017 truly was remarkable for Honda Malaysia. At the beginning of 2017, we challenged ourselves with a sales target of 100,000 units and in March 2017, we achieved a historical milestone with the 600,000th unit (CKD) production within the span of 14 years since Honda Malaysia started in 2003.

"At the end of 2017, based on internal data our market share was at 19 per cent, an increase of 3.2 points from 2016. For the first time ever, we surpassed the 100,000 units sales achievement within a calendar year. We continue to maintain our No. 1 position for the non-national segment and No. 2 position in overall TIV of the automotive industry.”

“On behalf of Honda Malaysia, I would like to extend our sincerest appreciation and thankfulness to all Honda Malaysia customers for their faith and belief in our brand and for making Honda their vehicle of choice. This achievement would not have been possible without our valued customers as well as strong support from our business partners and the Malaysian government,” he added.

Overall vehicle sales in the industry inched slightly up last year.

Last month, the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) announced that new vehicles sales for the month of November 2017 was 4.6 per cent or 2,143 units higher than October 2017.

In a statement, the association said this was due to year-end festive sales promotions.

Total industry volume also crept slowly up for the year to date November 2017, with 1.3 per cent higher sales than the similar corresponding period in 2016.

However, in terms of production, the number shrunk 26.2 per cent to 42,358 units in November from 57,369 units recorded in the same month in 2016.

Year to date, the production number stood at 463,993 units, down from 497,418 units recorded in the same period last year.

MAA said it expected sales volume for December 2017 to be better than November 2017 due to continuation of aggressive promotional campaigns by car companies and year-end festive sales promotions.

By New Straits Times(Published: 09/01/2018)

https://www.nst.com.my/business/2018/01/323299/honda-achieves-19-pct-sales-growth-2017-breaks-car-sales-record-malaysia

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