Southeast Asian auto sales rise admid slump

Southeast Asian auto sales rise admid slump

Agence France-Presse, Singapore

Motor vehicle sales in the four biggest Southeast Asian markets defied the economic downturn to climb 10 percent to 783,793 units in the first nine months of the year, an industry report said.

Sales in Malaysia were up 14 percent on the same period last year, Thailand showed 13.3 percent growth and Indonesian sales rose 7.8 percent, Automotive Resources Asia Ltd.(ARA) said in a report Thursday.

The Philippines proved the weak link with new vehicle sales down 12 percent in the first nine months.

"Vehicle sales in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia remain healthy considering the looming signs of slowdown in the region," ARA associate May Arthapan said.

"We expect the three auto markets to maintain their pace through to the end of the year."

Malaysia's September sales totaled 35,386, 24 percent up on the same month last year. Thailand sales rose 17 percent in the month to 22,507 units, while Indonesia was down 6.0 percent to 26,041.

The Philippines, which has struggled throughout a tumultuous year of political and social problems, saw new vehicle sales drop 14 percent in September to 6,419.

The Malaysian market was the strongest of the four with 289,455 vehicles sold in the year to date, and its national carmaker Proton was the leading manufacturer, with a 20-percent share of the four markets.

Toyota claimed a 19-percent-share, followed by Mitsubishi and Isuzu with 11 percent. Another Malaysian carmaker, Perodua, was fifth on 10 percent.