Perodua Expects Exports To Reach 11,000 Cars This Year

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 20 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's second automobil manufacturer, Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua), expects to increase it exports to about 10,000 to 11,000 this year, from about 8,000 cars exported last year. Its managing director Aminar Rashid Salleh said the target is part of Perodua's five-year plan to export 20,000 cars yearly by 2015, equivalent to 10 per cent of the company’s domestic sales. "We have organised a series of programmes for our staff such as sports carnivals in order to increase productivity and reach our target," he told reporters after officiating the 1Perodua Sports Carnival 2012 here on Sunday. Fourteen contingents nationwide are participating in the two-day carnival featuring tennis, ping pong, volleyball, football, futsal, netball, sepak takraw and badminton tournaments. "It is hoped that this carnival reinforces our team spirit and enhance cooperation amongst our employees," Aminar Rashid said. He added that Perodua is still negotiating with the central bank on relaxing the tight loan conditions for hire purchase of cars imposed effective this year. He said to date the effect has mostly been on the Perodua Viva model, for which bookings in January dipped by 10 per cent compared to the monthly average in 2011. "In principle, we support the central bank's decision, as we know the main objective of the implementation is to reduce the total household debt. "However, we hope that the government would reconsider the decision, because tightening the loan conditions would affect not only sales but also the entire ecosystem, including production vendors and customers," he said. He also expressed gratitude to Bank Negara for its concern about the situation and for calling the car manufacturer to discuss the matter. "We hope to obtain a positive outcome from the discussions," he added. -- BERNAMA Malaysia