Perodua MPV launch on November

Above about Perodua MPV.

Although total industry sales have dropped by about 12 per cent in the first five months, the performance was better than in the US and Europe, said Datuk Syed Abdull Hafiz Syed Abu Bakar, managing director of Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua).

Hafiz also said that the new multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) from Perodua, the country's largest car company by sales, should be launched in the third week of November.

Prices of the 1.5-litre MPV may start at under RM57,000 for the manual transmission unit, while the most expensive, an automatic version, should not cost more than RM66,000.

Hafiz is banking on the seven-seater to boost the domestic market, which he foresees will contract by 10 to 12 per cent to about 480,000 to 490,000 units for the whole year.

"Except for a few brighter spots like Germany, India and China, Malaysia has done quite decently so far compared to the US and many European countries. We have only contracted by about 12 per cent in the first five months as opposed to about 50 per cent in the US and 20 to 30 per cent in Europe," Hafiz said after launching the inaugural Perodua Eco-Challenge at Speedway Plus Circuit in Subang Jaya on Saturday.

The event saw students from 12 institutions of higher learning racing in their modified and decorated Myvis sponsored by Perodua.

"Sales will get better in the next three months as June, July and August, together with May, are traditionally peak months because of the festive seasons," Hafiz added.

Perodua itself saw its sales slowing 7 per cent from January till May, but Hafiz believes it can close 2009 with a contraction of only 5 to 6 per cent.

"Last year, we sold some 167,000 cars and this year, it should be around 158,000. About 51 per cent of our 2009 volume should come in the second half," he said.

In anticipation of stronger months ahead, Perodua is ramping up production at its plant in Serendah, Selangor. Production of the MPV should start in October.

Booking for the MPV is due to open in September after Hari Raya.