Malaysia 2006-2007: Perodua topples Proton after 21 years, Myvi #1

The Perodua Myvi takes the lead of Malaysian charts in 2006.

2006 is a difficult year for Malaysian new car sales, down -13% to 478.469 units, the harshest year-on-year drop since 1998 during the economic crisis. In 1985 the local brand Proton was launched and topped the national sales charts for 21 years in a row. In 1994, a second Malaysian brand launched: Perodua. After 11 spent in 2nd place in the shadow of Proton, 2006 is the year of the consecration for Perodua (+10.8%), the best-selling brand at home for the first time in Malaysian history, hitting a new record market share at 32.3%, just when Proton (-29.5%) falls apart. Toyota (-18.3%), Kia (-2.7%) and Honda (-9.2%) round up the Top 5 while Harbin Hafei lands directly at #9 with just under 6.500 sales, by far the best performance of any Chinese carmaker so far in Malaysia.

Toyota Avanza in Malaka, Malaysia (picture taken in 2008).

Model-wise, the Perodua Myvi (+147.7%), launched in May 2005, spends its first full year of sales at home in pole position with 15.3% share, almost 50.000 units and 9 percentage points of share above last year’s #1, the Perodua Kancil (-33.6%). The Proton Wira (-39.3%) drops one spot to #3, the Proton Iswara (-29.9%) is up one to #4 and the Toyota Avanza (-34%) down one to #5 still by far the most popular foreigner in Malaysia. The Myvi comfortably keeps its title in 2007, reaching market shares of above 17% ahead of the Proton Iswara, new Perodua Viva and Toyota Avanza.

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Full Year 2006 Top 45 All-brands and Top 215 All-models vs. Full 2005 figures below.

May 2017 Top 15 and 10 months 2017 Top 20 models below.