Malaysia 1999: Proton and Perodua hold record 82.5% share in market bouncing back up 75.8%

The Perodua Kancil is now less than 5.000 sales off the #1 models spot.

After freefalling -58.7% in 1998 due to the economic crisis hitting the country, new car sales in Malaysia bounce right back at +75.8% to 289.037 units, the highest annual volume since 1996. The two local carmakers tighten their grip over their home market even further, with Proton (+78%) up to 53.9% share and Perodua (+83.8%) up to 28.6%, adding up to a whopping 82.5% share for national brands. Toyota (+66.9%) falls below 5% share above Nissan (+91.8%) at 3.3%. Strikingly, all other brands fall below 2% share.

Interrupted by the Proton Saga in troubled times last year, the Proton Wira (+141.3%) resumes its domination of the Malaysian models charts thanks to sales more than doubled year-on-year. The Perodua Kancil (+70.9%) however has never been that close to the #1 spot (less than 5.000 sales), while the Saga (+31.3%) stumbles back down to #3. The Perodua Kembara (+306.9%) is up 4-fold but just one spot on 1998 to #4, knocking down the Proton Satria (+64%) to #5, ensuring the Top 5 is 100% Malaysian for the 4th time in the past 5 years. A novelty: the Proton Tiara (+394.5%) and Perdana (+235.2%) make it 7 Malaysian nameplates in the Top 8, a record. The Toyota Unser (+161.2%) aka Kijang becomes the best-selling foreigner ahead of the Nissan Vanette (+131.9%).

Previous year: Malaysia 1998: Proton Saga back to #1 in market imploding down -58.7%

Full Year 1999 Top 25 All-brands and Top 115 All-models vs. Full 1998 figures below.