Oxford, UK — Car sales in the Asean trading area in May were 221,000 units. This is a rise of 6% compared with the same month last year.
Looking at the year-to-date numbers, sales were 1,024,361 units across the trading block, according to figures from LMC Automotive.
Indonesian sales fell by 16.0% in May 2019, compared with May 2018. Demand was hit by Ramadan, and also by violent street protests in Jakarta. The violence followed a presidential election; both candidates are agreeing to seek peace.
Thus far this year, Indonesian sales reached 322,000 units. This is down by 14.0% compared with the same period last year.
Meanwhile, sales in Malaysia grew by 39.0% in May 2019, compared with the same month in 2018. LMC Automotive said purchases were boosted by aggressive sales campaigns ahead of the post-Ramadan holiday.
However, those numbers may be a little flattering, as sales in May 2018 were hit when the government announced a tax holiday between June and August. Year-to-date sales in Malaysia were 232,000 units, an advance of 14.0% compared with the same month in 2018.
Sales in Thailand fell by 0.4% in May 2019, compared with May 2018. LMC said this is the first time that car sales growth has been in negative territory since January 2017. Sales of smaller cars have fallen.
Year-to-date sales in the country were 232, 000 units by the end of May. This is up by 9.0% compared with the same month last year.
Sales in the Philippines advanced by 5.0% in May 2019, compared with May 2018.
The picture was better in Vietnam, where sales surged upwards by 42.0% in May 2019, compared with May 2018. Year-to-date sales were 120,000 units in May 2019. This is up by 43.0% compared with the same month last year.
