Zainal anticipates that Perodua’s production and sales for 4Q23 could reach historic highs.
TOKYO: Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua) will be ramping up its production capacity to “new highs” to fulfil outstanding orders.
President and chief executive officer Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Ahmad, in a statement, said the third quarter of 2023 (3Q23) marked the start of efforts to increase monthly production beyond 30,000 units, as the supply of raw materials and parts can now meet the demand.
“This production surge underscores the potential of the Malaysian automotive ecosystem as it continues to enhance economies of scale without compromising quality and cost efficiency,” he said.
With these improvements, Zainal anticipates that Perodua’s production and sales outlook for 4Q23 will reach historic highs.
“We are steadfast in reducing our customers’ waiting period. We believe that the waiting period from January 2024 onwards will be better managed,” Zainal stated.
Year-to-date September 2023, Perodua has produced 245,341 units, marking a 18.6% increase from the 206,837 units in the same period last year.
Separately, Perodua vice-president Datuk Ahmad Suhaimi Hashim highlighted the company’s efforts to enhance productivity.
He said this year, the automaker successfully increased the speed of the assembly lines at Perodua Global Manufacturing Sdn Bhd, achieving a tact time of 1.1 minutes and thereby significantly boosting overall productivity.
Ahmad Suhaimi attributed the extended waiting period for Perodua’s top-selling cars to a shortage in semiconductor components.
He said that it’s not only Perodua facing challenges, but other original equipment manufacturers are also grappling with semiconductor supply issues.
“At the beginning of the year, the situation was more challenging. However, we managed to negotiate with the supplier, and to a certain extent, they agreed to increase the supply,” he told reporters during a media briefing at the Japan Mobility Show 2023.
Perodua’s year-to-date registrations totalled 233,227 units in the first nine months of this year, compared to 196,354 units sold in the same period last year.
Among the 233,227 units registered, the top-selling Perodua model over the nine-month period is the Perodua Bezza, followed by the Perodua Axia and the Perodua Myvi.
Perodua commands a noteworthy market share, representing over 40% of the cars on the roads in Malaysia.
In 2022, Perodua achieved a remarkable milestone by selling approximately 282,000 cars, maintaining a significant lead in the Malaysian automotive market.
This places them well ahead of Proton, the other prominent Malaysian local brand, which secured the second position with total sales exceeding 136,000 units last year.
Meanwhile, for 3Q23, Perodua saw a 28.3% jump in sales to 88,537 units compared with 69,011 units in the previous corresponding quarter as production factors kicked into high gear.
Perodua attributed its sales surge to improved production efficiency, with 91,528 units made, a 21.7% increase compared to 75,196 units in the same quarter of 2022.
For a month-on-month comparison, Perodua registered 28,995 units in September 2023, marking a 17.7% increase from 24,626 units in September 2022.
In terms of production, Perodua manufactured 31,447 cars in September 2023, representing a 8.2% increase from the 29,077 units produced in September 2022.
The Japan Mobility Show 2023, the first of its kind, featured environmentally friendly vehicles, underscoring the country’s commitment to carbon neutrality and potentially inspiring a spillover effect in Malaysia’s pursuit of sustainability.
