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Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia reports 91% increase in sales for 2021

Growing popularity for the Mitsubishi Triton and XPANDER saw the total sales volume of Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) increasing in 2021. The company today announced that 17,489 vehicles from January to December 2021, a 91% increase compared to the same period in 2020.

With 7,397 units delivered nationwide, the XPANDER MPV had its best sales performance since being launched. This volume also made it the best-selling 7-seater Japanese crossover in Malaysia. The model is assembled locally at the DRB-HICOM manufacturing complex in Pekan, Pahang.

“We are pleased that XPANDER has enjoyed strong sales performance thanks to the extension of the tax-free incentive period. This decision by the Malaysian government has certainly helped the industry to sustain itself during this challenging phase. At Mitsubishi Motors, we have now progressed to increase our production volume for XPANDER, to cater for higher production capacity, and to fulfill all booking demands,” said Shinya Ikeda, CEO of Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia.

The Triton, currently in its fifth generation, also continued to be among the more popular pick-up trucks in the country. In spite of the challenging market conditions, MMM’s dealers delivered 9,268 units in Peninsular and East Malaysia in 2021, 34% more than in 2020.

“The continued growth of Mitsubishi Motors market compared to last year is a sign that we are steadily moving towards recovery. As we look forward to advancing and progressing into 2022, we have heard every customer’s feedback regarding our products and services, and we will continue to improve for an ownership experience of the highest standard,” he added.

*Owners of flood-damaged vehicles can obtain assistance from authorised Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia dealers nationwide.*

Support for Mitsubishi owners
Mr. Ikeda also said that MMM is offering support to Mitsubishi owners whose vehicles were damaged by the floods. “We would like to take this opportunity to extend our heartfelt sympathy to all who were affected by the recent flood incidents. We are here to support them, and they can get assistance by contacting our Customer Careline,” he said.

MMM is offering a 30% discount on Mitsubishi genuine spare parts and a 50% discount on labour costs (for flood-damaged vehicles serviced at authorised Mitsubishi Motors dealerships) until January 20, 2022. In addition, the company will also support owners by offering free towing service. All customers need to do is to contact Mitsubishi Assist 24Hrs customer careline (MA24) at 1-800-88-2166 to request for this service. Mitsubishi owners who arrange for their vehicle towing, without the assistance of MA24 and insurance coverage, are also entitled to rebates worth up to RM300.

To locate an authorised Mitsubishi Motors dealer in Malaysia, visit www.mitsubishi-motors.com.my.

Sony has developed a second EV and this one’s an SUV

At CES 2020 (the major consumer electronics trade show in Las Vegas), the Sony Group announced that it would be venturing further into the mobility business, with a sleek prototype car called the VISION-S. At that time, though, what it displayed seemed to be a concept car to show off various technologies, which is also done by other electronics companies

However, the company was actually going further with the concept car and began quietly developing it into a running prototype. By CES 2021, it revealed that there was a running prototype and it was being tested on public roads and on a test track in Austria. Engineers also started verification tests of the safety and user experience of the imaging and sensing technology installed inside and outside the vehicle, along with the human-machine interface (HMI) system.

*The VISION-S 02 concept (left) joins the original VISION-S 01 prototype.*

Second prototype displayed
At CES 2022 this week, Sony has not only provided an update on the progress of the project but is also displaying a second prototype, the VISION-S 02. This has a SUV design as a new form factor and rides on the same EV/cloud platform as the original VISION-S 01 prototype. By offering entertainment experiences utilizing the large interior space and variations of a 7-seater, this new prototype will promote the accommodation of a large variety of lifestyles within a society where values are becoming increasingly diversified.

The VISION-S 02 measures almost 4900 mm long and 1930 mm wide, which is about the size of a Lexus RX300. It has 200 kW electric motors powering the front and rear wheels so there’s all-wheel drive and the claimed top speed is expected to be over 180 km/h.

Advanced sensor system
Electronics are obviously one of Sony’s strengths and it has been developing a sensors system to support the driver. The system recognizes and analyzes the surrounding environment in real-time, using sensors installed to cover all around the vehicle. These sensors include high-sensitivity, high-resolution, wide dynamic range CMOS image sensors and LiDAR sensors that accurately sense 3-dimensional space.

In addition, the system provides intuitive driver interaction in conjunction with the vehicle’s sound system and HMI system, so that the driver can accurately judge the status of the surrounding environment, such as the presence of emergency vehicles, even from inside the vehicle.

Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensors are used to provide monitoring functions for driver authentication and to watch over passengers. They also support intuitive gesture and voice commands that are intended to enhance usability of the car interface. Additionally, in order to deliver an environment that suits each user’s preferences, the vehicle will include a new function that allows users to customize the display theme and the acceleration and deceleration sounds of the vehicle.

Vehicle settings, key locks, and user settings can be synchronized by linking the vehicle to the cloud using mobile communication, including 5G communication, which features low-latency, high-capacity, and high-speed capabilities. In addition, since updates are reflected in the vehicle via over the air (OTA), it is possible to provide security and evolve service functions and value-added offerings continuously.

5G connectivity
5G driving tests were also conducted from April 2021, the next-generation network connectivity enabling a continuous connection between the in-vehicle systems and the cloud, in order to synchronize data and control signals, and update the systems OTA (Over The Air).

“Real time mobile communication turns cars into databases on wheels. In our 5G Mobility Lab, the VISION-S Prototype learns to communicate in real time. Together with Sony, we are preparing the first prototype for 5G so that in the future new features can be imported into the car over the air and with a simple software update,” said Hannes Ametsreiter, CEO of Vodafone Germany, which is collaborating with the Japanese company.

Utilizing Sony’s in-house technologies and knowledge of communication technology and security cultivated through the development of smartphones, it has positioned remote operation as an important technology in anticipation of the arrival of the autonomous driving era.

Enriching the mobility entertainment space
The seat speakers, which create a three-dimensional sound field, and the streaming service compatible with ‘360 Reality Audio’ provide an immersive music experience. The high quality would only be expected from Sony, which has a strong reputation in this field.

In addition, to provide a high-quality movie experience, the VISION-S models include the fully integrated digital video service ‘BRAVIA CORE for VISION-S’. The service enables shared or individual video playback on the front panoramic screen and individual rear-seat displays. Further extending the possibilities of in-vehicle entertainment, gaming capabilities have expanded to being able to play PlayStation games through a remote connection to a console at home, in addition to the ability to play streaming games through the cloud.

To make the best use of AI and robotics technologies, Sony will soon establish an operating company called Sony Mobility Inc., through which the company intends to explore entry into the EV market.

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Toyota overtook General Motors in 2021 to be No.1 carmaker in the USA

General Motors (GM) was the market leader in the US market since 1931 but last year, its place was taken not by Ford, Chrysler or even Tesla but by a foreign brand – Toyota. The Japanese carmaker reported sales of 2.332 million vehicles in 2021, beating the 2.218 million units that GM announced the same day. A year earlier, GM had still held No.1 spot with 2.55 million units while Toyota did 2.11 million units, and Ford reported 2.04 million units.

Understandably, Toyota has not played up on its ascent to No.1 position – the first foreign carmaker to do so – since it can be a sensitive issue among Americans. Although it imports many vehicles, it also has huge factories in America that manufacture a number of models there, so they are as American as those from the Big Three with substantial local sourcing of parts as well, not to mention being made by American workers.

But Toyota, like other Japanese carmakers, has been through periods of consumer resentment for their products and at one time, were even forced to voluntarily limit exports from Japan in the 1980s. Starting with a limit of 1.68 million cars (total for all makes) in 1981, the voluntary export restraint brought on by US political pressure remained for some 9 years. While it relieved some pressure on the American carmakers, it also resulted in foreign carmakers setting up factories in America so they could build their cars there, behind the ‘barrier’ and unrestricted by quotas.

The Crown was the first Toyota to appear in the USA in 1958. The carmaker established its first operations in California, from where it would spread across the country and then begin setting up factories to make its cars there as well. 63 years later, it has become the No.1 carmaker in the country, displacing GM which held the title for 31 years.

Besides the COVID-19 pandemic which affected the whole auto industry, there were also serious supply chain issues and more disrupting, a shortage of semiconductors for the many electronic systems in today’s motor vehicles. Every manufacturer was affected but some, like Toyota, had managed to plan well, which the Japanese are good at. Lessons learnt from the tsunami/earthquake disaster in Japan in 2011 also helped Toyota to have good management of its supply chain and to ensure sufficient buffer stocks for any major disruption.

No plans to boast about title
Toyota doesn’t plan to use its achievement in promotions and instead highlights other sales achievements in 2021 (in the US market) like selling the most electrified vehicles for the 22^nd consecutive year, being the No.1 retail brand (which excludes leasing and fleet sales) for the 10^th consecutive year, No. 1 in passenger car market share for 10th consecutive year, and the bestselling models in the passenger car category (Camry), midsize SUV category (Highlander), SUV category (RAV4) and small van category (Sienna).

The Honda Accord was the first foreign model to become the No.1 passenger car sold in America in 1989. But the Camry has taken the position most years since 1994, and has been No.1 for the past 20 consecutive years. The success of the model was, in part, due to the refusal of the top guys at Toyota USA to take the model designed in Japan which was too conservative. With the support of the Toyodas, they managed to get the chief engineer to come up with a completely different design which, in some ways, mirrored the Lexus LS400 that had become a benchmark in the US premium luxury class from 1989.

While the Honda Accord was the first foreign model to be the bestselling car in America in 1989, it’s been the Toyota Camry (1994 model shown below) which has been No.1 for the past 20 consecutive years.

The RAV4 is also another great success story for Toyota in America. It appeared at just the right time as Americans had a growing love for SUVs. Small and as easy to drive as a passenger car, it was ideal for the transition from a passenger car to SUV. It virtually created a new category overnight which would influence the rest of the industry to start following. Three years after the RAV4 appeared, Lexus also did a similar thing in the premium segment with the RX300.

*The RAV4 created a new market segment almost overnight when it appeared in 1995. Since then, it has been a top-seller in its class.*

Electrified models fuel sales
In recent times, Toyota’s growth has been fuelled by electrified vehicles, which it has been selling since the late 1980s when it introduced the Prius as the world’s first mass-produced vehicles with a hybrid powertrain. Since then, the range of hybrid models has expanded and it has even started selling a fuel-cell electric vehicle called the Mirai. Last year, electrified models accounted for about 25% of the total vehicles Toyota sold, up 73.2% in volume from a year before.

The Prius was the first mass-produced vehicle in the world with a hybrid powertrain when it was launched in 1989. Since then, Toyota has expanded its range of electrified models with hybrid powertrains and the picture below shows the models sold in the USA in 2013.

The total industry volume was just under 15 million vehicles in 2021 and 2022 is expected to see growth. Some forecasts put it at just over 15 million, but Toyota is more optimistic and thinks it could reach 16.5 million units, of which it is aiming to contribute 2.4 million. Whether GM will regain its crown remains to be seen although, like Ford long ago, the carmaker realizes that it is not much point chasing a No.1 title at the expense of profitability. Toyota somehow has managed to grab the No.1 position while still remaining profitable, though, but the Japanese are always conscious of a rival overtaking them so they never stop looking in the mirror.

Third year of growth in Proton sales in spite of challenging conditions

Although it is estimated that the Total Industry Volume (TIV) of new vehicles sold in Malaysia last year dropped by at least 4.6% to just over 505,000 units of passenger cars and commercial vehicles, Proton’s sales for the year rose by 4.5% over its 2020 volume. With December contributing 14,147 units, the Malaysia carmaker ended the year with a total of 114,708 units delivered (including export sales). It was the highest closing figure since 2014 and is the third consecutive year of volume growth for the company.

The brand’s market share in December is estimated to be 20.6% but for the whole of 2021, it would likely be 22.7% (pending official data from the Malaysian Automotive Association). This would be an increase of 2% over the market share in 2020, putting it is a firm second position in overall sales.

SUVs make big contribution
It’s not surprising that the two SUV models – the X70 launched in December 2018 and the X50 in October 2020 – have made major contributions to Proton’ sales numbers. This mirrors the global trend that has been going on many years now where SUVs are very popular.

With a total of 45,149 SUVs sold in 2021, Proton can claim to be the best-selling SUV brand in Malaysia. That number accounted for nearly 40% of its total sales volume. Individually, the X50 ended the year with 28,774 units, with December being its best month when 4,310 units were delivered nationwide. It was the second consecutive month the model exceeded more than 4,000 units.

Meanwhile, 16,375 units of the bigger X70 were delivered in 2021 with a final month figure of 1,616 units. This put it at the top of the SUV C-segment, and third in terms of overall SUV sales.

Saga still the bestseller
Nevertheless, the bestselling model for Proton was still the evergreen Saga, with 42,627 units sold. The model is also sold overseas and assembled in some countries as well, enabling better supply of cars to those markets.

Other models that performed well in 2021 were the Exora (4,035 units), Persona (16,153 units) and Iriz (6,708 units). Deliveries rose a bit during December as chip supply issue improved slightly.

Growing international sales
International sales were also a major highlight for the company. With 3,018 units exported in 2021, the total volume grew by over 100%. This made Proton the number one local automotive brand for export sales last year. With local assembly operations ramping up in overseas markets coupled to a hopeful loosening of trade restrictions, there is optimism the upward trend will continue in coming years.

“2021 was tough for the automotive industry as a whole and this is reflected in the reduction in TIV compared to the previous year. From a global chip shortage to a spike in COVID-19 numbers that led to another lockdown to skyrocketing transport costs, there were many challenges for industry players to overcome. That is why PROTON’S sales growth in a year where the market contracted was significant as it was the result of careful planning and juggling of available resources,” said Roslan Abdullah, CEO of Proton Edar.

“Regarding export sales, we are equally proud about being the brand with the highest export volume in 2021 as it proves we are gaining traction overseas thanks to the joint efforts of our International Sales division and our foreign partners. While increasing shipping costs are a growing concern, our planned activities in 2022 means we expect export sales growth to accelerate in the coming years,” he added.

7 new outlets opened
The Proton network of 3S/4S outlets started 2021 with 140 outlets and despite the challenges faced in terms of financing and construction works, another 7 outlets were in operation by the end of 2021.

“The growth of Proton’s ancillary businesses such as Proton Commerce and the increase in the number of outlets is directly linked to the number of vehicles we sell. As sales have grown so have our facilities to cater to an increased number of customers. I would also like to announce we have extended the warranty for the 6-speed automatic gearbox used by the CBU Proton X70 to 5 years with unlimited mileage. This is to further benefit our customers and give them added peace of mind,” added Encik Roslan.

Perodua ends 2021 with 190,291 vehicles sold, with Myvi continuing as bestselling model in the country

In 2020, although the COVID-19 pandemic started, Perodua was able to sell 220,154 vehicles. However, in 2021, apart from the disruption of a long suspension of business, the supply issues for semiconductors and more recently, severe floods in many states, saw the carmaker’s sales volume for the year falling by 13.6%to 190,291 units.

The drop might have been slightly more but a last big push in December managed to increase the sales volume in the final month of 2021 to 22,940 units, 13% higher than the November volume. Part of the reason for the higher volume was also due to countermeasures on intermittent supply disruption due to COVID-19 issues, enabling more vehicles to leave the two factories.

“The 190,291 registrations were below our target of 200,000 units for 2021 as the challenges in 2021 was greater than anticipated,” said Perodua President & CEO, Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad. “God-willing, deliveries will further improve in the coming months.”

The Myvi, updated in mid-November, continued to be the bestselling model in the Malaysian market with 47,525 units delivered nationwide. It has taken the market-leading position for 12 of the past 15 years, with the other 3 years being taken by the smaller Axia which, together with the Bezza, dominating the country’s A-segment.

Looking at overall industry performance in 2021, Dato’ Zainal said that the Total Industry Volume (TIV) for the year would also see a similar sales impact with an estimated decrease of 23.6% to 504,536 units from the 528,172 units sold in 2020.

“Despite the lower than expected performance for 2021, our countermeasures for the impact of COVID-19 have proven successful so far as we and our suppliers are dynamically cooperating and coordinating our efforts to ensure interruptions are minimised,” he said.

“These efforts include having a ready team of personnel to take active countermeasures at an alternate site if a supplier is under lockdown and also by allocating Perodua staff to shore up any suppliers that need temporary manpower replacements,” he revealed.

“The local automotive supply chain has also taken a massive setback in recent years. However, there is a silver lining as the order bank for Perodua vehicles remains healthy as consumers are still responding positively to the sales tax exemption introduced by the government,” Dato’ Zainal said.

On the year ahead, Dato’ Zainal said that the company had offered a forecast of 240,000 units for 2022. However, this number will likely be reviewed later this month, taking into consideration the latest developments and events.

Regarding the recent Perodua Flood Assistance programme, Dato’ Zainal said about 1,675 owners have responded to the programme and their vehicles are being inspected at Perodua service centres across the country.

“The Perodua Flood Assistance programme, which was announced by the Prime Minister, December 26 2021, has drawn a lot of interest from the public. Our priority now is to work with the insurance companies as well as other our other partners to hasten any approval process needed to repair and restore the flood damaged vehicles,” Dato Zainal said.

“We understand that most of our customers rely on their Perodua for their daily activities and we will do our best to assist,” he added. Perodua is offering up to 50% discount on selected parts needed to repair flood-damaged vehicles, and there will be no charge for labour for repair work (excluding car cleaning and detailing).

Perodua owners whose vehicles have been damaged by flood can contact the company’s support line 1-800-88-5555 to get assistance, especially for towing services (terms and conditions apply). To locate a Perodua service centre in Malaysia, visit www.perodua.com.my.

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