The Perodua brand is off to quite an amazing start in Sri Lanka. It only took two years for the Perodua Bezza to become the best-selling new sub-1.0 litre sedan in their current local market and the demand is on rise.
In fact, it only took seven months after its introduction in the country before it took the lead in its segment in terms of new vehicle sales across all body styles. Launched back in June 2017, the Bezza was priced at Rs 3.69 million (around RM86,200) and they’ve already sold around 1,500 units. (more…)
One of Malaysia’s most affordable car is back with more value, advanced safety features, and updated styling and it’s open for booking. The 2019 Perodua Axia gets more excitement with six variants on offer – E, G, GXtra, SE, AV, and the latest addition, STYLE model. (more…)
Since 2011, Perodua has been providing its Tweckbot complimentary mobile vehicle inspection service. Over 8,000 vehicles have been inspected nationwide during that period and there would have been some owners who would have been grateful to be alerted of a problem to attend to before starting off on their long journey.
Important service – provided free The Tweckbot service is part of Perodua’s road safety push and will be offered during the Aidil Adha and Merdeka holiday periods this year. This is timely as it is important to conduct checks on vehicle roadworthiness in preparation for long balik kampung drives during festive periods.
“The free 50-point Tweckbot inspection includes checks to the engine, transmission, cooling system, brakes, power steering, clutch, tyres, suspension and electrics, and will give our customers total peace of mind for the long journeys ahead,” said Perodua’s President & CEO, Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad.
Discount voucher given after inspection
The Tweckbot team will be at the northbound Rawang rest area on the PLUS Highway during August 24/25 from 10 am to 5 pm. Customers who inspect their vehicle with Tweckbot will get a voucher that can be used to redeem a 20% discount on parts and accessories at any authorised Perodua service centre.
“Tweckbot aims to promote the importance of checking one’s vehicle regularly, to service them at authorised Perodua service centres, and to only use genuine Perodua products and parts, all in the name of safety,” Dato’ Zainal said.
“In the spirit of Aidil Adha, Perodua hopes it can share knowledge and awareness of the importance of safety with the close-knit community that is the Malaysian public. Also, this Merdeka will mark 62 years of Malaysian independence and it is our hope that our minds too can be liberated to embrace and prioritise safety in every aspect of our lives.”
“Safety is a mindset first and foremost, and as a People First company, Perodua will do all it can to promote this mindset amongst its employees, customers and the general public. We believe safety is everyone’s right,” Dato’ Zainal said.
Perodua aims to export 3,270 cars in 2019 – a 50% increase over last year’s 2,184 units. So far this year, the Malaysian carmaker has sent over 1,600 units to distributors outside Malaysia, with the Myvi and Axia being launched in Singapore and the Seychelles, respectively.
Now Mauritius is the export market to get the latest Myvi, after Indonesia (where it is sold as the Daihatsu Sirion) and Singapore. The island nation is one of Perodua’s oldest overseas markets and nearly 2,400 have been sold there since 1996.
The model made its debut recently at the Defi Media Motor Show, which took place at the Swami Vivekananda International Conference Centre in Mauritius. It is imported and distributed by Raouf Dusmohamud & Co Ltd.
A Perodua showroom in Mauritius, one of the Malaysian carmaker’s oldest export markets.
Contributing to export target for 2019
“The third-generation Perodua Myvi has been very well-received in Malaysia and we believe Mauritians will appreciate its many qualities,” said Perodua President & CEO, Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad. “The Myvi’s Mauritian debut should edge us closer to our year-end export target and boost Perodua’s brand exposure internationally, what with Mauritius being a major tourist destination.”
“Unique styling, amazing interior space and clever yet practical features join forces with high quality and durability for its occupants’ comfort and convenience. “With LED headlamps, keyless entry and start, Bluetooth, 4 or 6 airbags and stability control standard on both variants, the new Perodua Myvi is a very sophisticated and advanced product that Mauritians can truly get excited about,” said Raouf Dusmohamud & Co Ltd’s Managing Director, Raouf Dusmohamud.
Enhanced the ownership package
“Plus, we’re sweetening the ownership package for our valued customers by offering free servicing up to 30,000 kms with every Myvi purchase, which we are now also extending to all the other Perodua models in our current line-up, namely the Alza, Axia and Bezza,” he added.
Two variants of the Myvi are offered in Mauritius – the 1.3 G AT and 1.5 H AT, priced respectively at 699,000 (equivalent to RM81,300) and 775,000 (RM90,140) Mauritian Rupees.
Visit www.perodua.com.my to know more about the company and its products.
The Perodua Aruz has taken the top spot on Malaysia’s most popular SUV list and with such high demand, the waiting period is understandably longer than normal. Previously, excited customers had to wait around two months to get their new cars but now, Perodua has succeeded in cutting it down to just one month. (more…)
Perodua is constantly aiming for higher standards in all aspects of its business so customers get better services. In a move to step up its human capital development efforts and provide higher standards of Body & Paint (B&P) services to its customers, the carmaker recently held its first-ever Body & Paint (B&P) Skill Contest.
Assurance of quality and safety
Established in 2009, Perodua’s B&P business deals with the repair and restoration of vehicles that have been involved in collisions. “Our B&P business aims to take much of the hassle away from the repair of collision-involved vehicles, with work carried out to the highest possible standards of quality and safety. The use of only genuine parts also gives customers total peace-of-mind,” said Perodua Sales Sdn Bhd MD, Dato’ Dr Zahari Husin.
“The safety of our customers is our top priority. When a vehicle gets involved in a collision, its structural integrity, and therefore its safety, may be compromised. Perodua B&P technicians are professionally trained to provide only the best workmanship in the restoration of Perodua vehicles that have been involved in collisions,” he explained.
Customer-related scenarios used
Although the carmaker has been holding its National Technical Skill Contest since 1997, this is the first time it has held such a contest specifically for B&P personnel. As with the National Technical Skill Contest, participants are put through tough customer-related scenarios and are judged not only on their technical expertise and problem-solving skills but also on their emphasis on Customer Satisfaction.
The inaugural Perodua B&P Skill Contest saw 140 B&P service advisors, body technicians and paint technicians from 35 B&P hubs and 4S outlets nationwide join the initial rounds throughout February and March.
The semi-finals in April narrowed the contestants down to 12 finalists, and last week’s finals saw Norhizam Zainal Abidin (Puchong B&P Hub), Hazinin Rosli (Kota Kinabalu 2) and Fazwan Mazlan (Kota Bharu 1) winning their categories.
“The Perodua B&P Skill Contest brings with it a multitude of benefits. Via healthy competition, it encourages learning, sharing and applying knowledge gained amongst our B&P staff, not to mention the all-important Kaizen, or continuous improvement. This sharpens their skill sets and ensures their capabilities remain competitive and relevant to the ever-evolving needs and wants of our valued customers. It also helps them grow in their careers,” said Dato’ Dr. Zahari.
Visit www.perodua.com.my for the locations of authorised service centres and B&P facilities.
It’s evident that Proton sales this year have been growing steadily and the brand has been edging upwards on the chart towards Perodua, which has been No. 1 since 2005. Yet, Perodua remains confident that in the remaining 6 months of 2019, it will continue to maintain its strong sales and has even revised upwards its sales target for the year to 235,000 units. This is 4,000 units higher than the 231,000-unit target announced when the year began.
To put things into perspective, Perodua sold 227,243 vehicles in 2018, which was the highest annual sales achievement in its history. In the first half of 2019, Perodua sold some 121,800 vehicles – 4% more than the 117,100 units it sold in the same period last year – backed by sustained healthy demand for all its models.
Speaking to the media today, Perodua President & CEO, Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad, said that from January through June this year, total bookings stood at 190,765 units, more than 3% up on the 184,949 orders collected in the same 5-month period last year.
“The increase in demand for our vehicles in the first 6 months of 2019 has had a positive impact on the automotive ecosystem as a whole, with parts purchases amounting to RM2.7 billion during this period,” Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad said. “Based on our forecast for the second half of the year, we expect to purchase a total of RM5.4 billion worth of parts for the whole of 2019.
He said that Perodua is also working with the Daihatsu Motor Company of Japan to further develop its component suppliers to explore markets beyond Malaysia, and that this forms part of the company’s commitment to build Malaysia’s automotive support industries.
Second half outlook
On the outlook for the second half of 2019, Dato’ Zainal said, “There is good news in the market as the central bank has reduced the overnight policy rate, which will help in promoting consumer spending. That said, we should remember that last year there was a big incentive for consumers to buy cars with the tax holiday, which was announced after the outcome of the country’s 14th General Election.
“Based on our internal calculations, the industry has outperformed expectations in the first half of this year – Malaysia’s Total Industry Volume (TIV) has grown 2.4% to 296,800 units,” Dato’ Zainal added.
He explained that the tax break incentive had a one-off effect on the market and that consumers and automotive players alike took advantage of the situation. “With this in mind, we believe that the second half of the year will not be as healthy as what was recorded last year. The momentum of the first half is likely to reduce in the second half,” said the President and CEO.
Demand for the Aruz continues to be high and June sales were moderated to manage stocks, not that there was a drop in demand.It was also revealed that Perodua management has given the green light to further develop the Myvi GT concept that was displayed at the KL International Motorshow last year, with a view of selling it to the public.
Working harder on exports
“We have reached a stage in our history where we are earnestly seeking to build our brand abroad in a sustainable manner. However, this is on a long-term scale as brands do need time to build. Our hope is to make Malaysia proud,” he added.
Although Perodua had, in earlier years, been exporting its cars to some markets in Europe (including the UK), the increasingly stringent exhaust emission regulations had eventually impacted the exports and the cost of meeting the regulations was too high. Daihatsu too stopped exporting its products to Europe. However, in the ASEAN region, Perodua still had a small export volume and even supplied the Myvi to Daihatsu for sale as a Sirion in Indonesia under its own brand.
Singapore is one of the markets that Perodua exports to.
At the moment, Perodua exports to 7 countries and is putting in greater efforts to enter new markets in coming years. This takes time as thorough market studies are needed and the products correctly tailored to customer needs. In this respect, the experience of Daihatsu would be useful.
Recall for the Aruz
At today’s media briefing, Perodua also announced a recall for the Aruz which affects 3,000+ vehicles manufactured before February 15, 2019. The recall is precautionary and is related to the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) managing the side airbag. This is in response to an incident of unintended inflation of the airbag in a Toyota Rush in the Philippines but it is confirmed that there is nothing defective about the airbag itself.
Perodua officials explained that the road conditions in the Philippines and also in Indonesia are rougher than in Malaysia, and could be the cause. Owners have been sent letters asking them to bring their vehicles in for the precautionary check and if needed, rectification.
Perodua’s workforce at his head office and factory complex in Sungai Choh, Selangor, numbers some 8,500 and the employees commute daily over short and long distances. Aiming to sustain its Road Safety Programme beyond the end of the Raya season, the Malaysian carmaker is collaborating with the Social Security Organisation (PERKESO) to push the road safety envelope for its employees.
Kiken Yochi – predicting potential hazards
Recently, PERKESO trainers delivered a talk entitled ‘Vision Zero’ to about 150 Perodua staff, including 40 of its trainers, covering topics such as Kiken Yochi, careful driving and the importance of checking the condition of one’s vehicle regularly. Kiken Yochi is a Japanese term for predicting unsafe conditions and learning to recognize them.
Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department Chief Assistant Director, Supt. Dr. Bakri Zainal Abidin also gave a talk on road rules and safety awareness.
“Perodua has executed many initiatives under our long-term Road Safety Programme. After carrying out many staff-wide awareness activities to great effect, we are now ready to progress to the Kiken Yochi stage, where we teach our staff to anticipate potential hazards,” said. Perodua’s President & CEO, Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad.
“We express our utmost gratitude to PERKESO for imparting useful road safety pointers and knowledge, parts of which will be incorporated into Perodua’s own road safety training syllabus. We aim to cascade this syllabus through all our HQ staff in the span of 2 years,” he added.
Safety first within the company
“Being Malaysia’s biggest carmaker by volume and one of Selangor’s biggest employers, Perodua feels it is its duty to contribute significantly to efforts to reduce work commute accidents. We are totally committed to safety and hope our efforts can serve as an example to the rest of the nation,” Dato’ Zainal said.
“And as a People First company, Perodua cares very much for the safety and well-being of its employees, customers and the general public, because we believe safety is everyone’s right,” he added.
No matter how much the carmakers and authorities warn consumers about the dangers of using imitation products and parts, there are still motorists who buy them knowingly or unknowingly. And these days, the imitation parts can be hard to differentiate from the original items so consumers may be misled even though they should be suspicious if the prices are too cheap.
In a move to address this situation in the market, Perodua recently took the initiative of providing enforcement officers from the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) with an understanding of the problem and how to identify imitation parts.
Comprehensive briefing for enforcement officers
Some 120 KPDNHEP officers attended an engagement session at Perodua’s Sungai Choh headquarters where, together with select service dealers and stockists, they received a comprehensive briefing. They were acquainted them with Perodua’s range of genuine products and parts, where they are sold, the logistics flow and shown real and fake items.
“Perodua is aware of the circulation of non-genuine products and parts that bear Perodua branding in the market, some of which are almost indistinguishable from the originals. These include lubricants, oil filters, shock absorbers and brake pads,” said Perodua Sales Sdn Bhd Managing Director, Dato’ Dr Zahari Husin.
Be sure to buy Perodua Genuine parts from authorised service centres or stockists.
Warranty is void if imitation parts used
ProGanti parts are an affordable alternative and you won’t lose your warranty using them.
“This is very alarming as they are critical items. Customers may be misled into buying and using such items, which have not been tested by Perodua, on their vehicles. Besides voiding warranties, this could greatly jeopardise the safety and running condition of their vehicles,” he warned.
“We hope that the engagement session was informative and insightful, and that it will help them in their duties to identify, pin-point and put the brakes on counterfeit Perodua products and parts in the market,” added Dato’ Dr Zahari. “We urge the public not to be lured by unscrupulous traders selling imitation Perodua items, and to only buy and use genuine products and parts from authorised Perodua stockists or any of our 179 authorised Perodua service centres nationwide.
“Genuine Perodua products and parts are fairly priced and most importantly, they give you total peace-of-mind. As an alternative, we have the ProGanti range of parts that’s easier on the wallet but still tested and approved by Perodua,” he said.
Visit www.perodua.com.my to locate authorised service centres where genuine Perodua and ProGanti parts are available.
The Perodua name has finally landed in Seychelles, an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, off East Africa where it was officially launched by SF Hybrid Motors Pty Ltd yesterday at the Eden Bleu Hotel. Seychelles is a popular tourist destination where four different variants of the Axia can be purchased. (more…)
