KUALA LUMPUR (March 13): UMW group’s sales in February 2023 jumped 44% year-on-year to 34,233 units from 23,853 units a year earlier, as both UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) and UMW’s associate company, Perodua, fulfilled encouraging outstanding bookings.
In a statement on Monday (March 13), the group said UMWT’s sales rose to 9,297 units in February 2023, 45% higher than the 6,432 units delivered in February 2022.
The group said it was also 37% higher than the 6,786 units registered in January 2023.
For the first two months of 2023, UMWT registered 16,083 units, a 15% growth compared with the 13,960 units registered in the corresponding period of 2022, it said.
The automotive group said UMWT expects the demand and sales to be sustained throughout the year, supported by the introduction of new and facelift models.
On Feb 17, 2023, UMWT launched the GR Supra, GR 86, GR Corolla, Corolla Cross GR Sport, as well as the Hilux GR Sport.
To further strengthen its market position, UMWT has started order-taking for the all-new Toyota Vios on Feb 24.
UMW said Perodua’s sales continued on an upward trajectory in February 2023, with the delivery of 24,936 units, 43% higher than the 17,421 units registered in February 2022, as well as 16% higher than the 21,449 units registered in January 2023.
For the first two months of 2023, it said that Perodua delivered 46,385 units, a 33% growth compared with the 34,865 units registered in the corresponding period of 2022.
With the improving demand, Perodua has set a higher sales target of 314,000 units for 2023, a 11% growth compared with 2022, the group said.
The higher sales will be driven by the all-new 2023 Perodua Axia that was launched on Feb 14, 2023, it added.
UMW Holdings Bhd president and group CEO Datuk Ahmad Fuaad Kenali said the group was cautiously optimistic that the automotive industry will continue to perform well in 2023, based on the encouraging sales and orders.
At 10am on Monday, UMW gained 0.82% or three sen to RM3.71, with 155,900 shares traded.
Source: TheEdge - 14 Mar 2023
