Vehicle sales zoom 31 percent in ASEAN's four biggest markets

Vehicle sales zoom 31 percent in ASEAN's four biggest markets

Agence France-Presse, Singapore

Motor vehicle sales in Southeast Asia's top four markets -- Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines -- rose 31 percent in January from a year earlier, an industry report released here showed Wednesday.

Sales totaled 92,740 units in January from 70,929 in the same month last year, Automotive Resources Asia Ltd. (ARA) said, adding this augured well for the market outlook this year.

"Malaysia and Thailand started the year well. Their high sales records reverse the usually slow demand in January," said May Arthapan, an associate at the Bangkok-based ARA.

"Overall market trends suggest (a) positive outlook in the regional automotive market in 2002," she said.

Sales in Malaysia soared 47 percent on the year to 39,646 units, up from 27,045 vehicles. Thailand sales jumped 45 percent to 24,727 from 17,031, while Indonesia sold 22,859 units, higher by 8.0 percent from the 21,117 vehicles sold the previous year.

Only the Philippines reported a decline, with sales falling 4.0 percent to 5,508 units from 5,736, according to ARA.

Malaysia's national car Proton remained the market leader with a 22-percent market share in the four biggest markets in the 10- member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Japanese car-maker Toyota was second with 19 percent share, followed by another Malaysian firm Perodua with 12 percent, Mitsubishi at 11 percent, Isuzu 10 percent, Nissan 5.0 percent and Honda 4.0 percent.