Malaysia 2002: Proton below 50% share, Perodua hits record 29%, market above 400.000 units for the first time

The Proton Waja ranks #3 in Malaysia for the 2nd straight year.

The Malaysian new car market signs a 4th consecutive double-digit gain in 2002 at +10.4% leading to the very first annual volume above 400.000 units at 439.814. For the first time since 1997 and only the third time in the past decade, brand leader Proton (+2.6%) drops below the symbolic 50% share milestone at 48.9%. Reversely, the other local carmaker Perodua (+15.3%) hits a new share record at 29%. Toyota (+20.1%) and Nissan (-2.1%) cement their status as most popular foreign brands and the only ones above 2% share at 6.2% and 3.4% respectively. Kia (+734.2%), Hyundai (+320.2%) and Mitsubishi (+51.2%) are the most dynamic in the Top 10.

The models ranking is stable, with the Top 4 unchanged: the Proton Wira (+11.1%) is back in positive at 21.8% share, taking what seems to be a definitive advantage over the Perodua Kancil (-15%) at 14.3% while the Proton Waja (+4.2%) rounds up the podium again at 13% share. The Proton Saga (-10.6%), Perodua Kelisa (+248.5%) and Kenari (+43.9%) make the Top 6 entirely Malaysian, with the Toyota Unser (+9.6%) and Nissan Vanette (+16.1%) once again the only foreigners in the Top 10.

Previous post: Malaysia 2000-2001: Proton Wira holds off Perodua Kancil, 9 local nameplates in Top 10 in record market

Full Year 2002 Top 30 All-brands and Top 145 All-models vs. Full 2001 figures below.