Latest news with #MARii
The Star
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Star
Steady outlook for used car market
PETALING JAYA: Used car players expect year-on-year (y-o-y) sales to remain steady in 2025, on the back of a stable socio-political environment, favourable interest rates and aggressive promotional initiatives. Carsome Group chief business officer Aaron Kee said used car sales typically mirror new car sales quite closely. 'With the new car segment expected to moderate after a record year in 2024, used car sales are also expected to come in moderately lower y-o-y. 'That said, Carsome continues to grow as a platform, driven by market share gains,' he told StarBiz. Kee: Access to financing and interest rates remain accommodative, and we do not see a spike in non-performing loans. According to the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA), new vehicle sales hit a record high in 2024, rising 2.1% y-o-y to 816,747 units, supported by a resilient economy and broad-based improvements across all key sectors. The MAA projects a slight slowdown to 780,000 units in 2025. Kee noted that the recent sales and service tax (SST) announcement has dampened sentiment slightly, with more consumers adopting a wait-and-see approach. 'The uncertainty surrounding RON95 fuel subsidy rationalisation is also likely to influence car-buying patterns in the near term.' Despite these headwinds, he said the local used car market remains relatively resilient compared with regional peers. 'In Thailand, new vehicle sales in the first five months of 2025 declined by around 3% y-o-y, while Indonesia saw a steeper drop with sales falling by approximately 5.5%. 'In contrast, Malaysia continues to benefit from a stable socio-political environment, favourable interest rates and a resilient domestic economy,' Kee said. Meanwhile, Federation of Motor and Credit Companies Association of Malaysia president Datuk Tony Khor believes used car sales in 2025 will likely be 'on par' with 2024 levels. 'Used car sales are down 3% y-o-y in the first six months of 2025 (1H25). With the recent overnight policy rate (OPR) cut, we are hopeful that this will help reduce the costs of borrowing and boost spending.' Khor: We expect used car companies' digitalisation efforts to boost car sales in the second half of the year. Bank Negara cut the OPR by 25 basis points to 2.75% at its July Monetary Policy Committee meeting. Khor also noted that many used car companies are accelerating their digitalisation efforts to drive sales. 'We expect these efforts to boost car sales in the 2H25. Hopefully, this will result in used car sales being on par with the levels achieved last year.' He added that smaller used car companies that have yet to adopt digital marketing face the risk of falling behind. 'Therefore, we have reached out to the government, especially the Malaysia Automotive Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii), to assist these smaller used car companies fast-track their digitalisation initiatives.' MARii is an agency under the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry tasked with enhancing the competitiveness of the Malaysia's automotive sector. Citing Carsome data, Kee said used car sales in 1H25 were broadly flat y-o-y, reflecting a more measured consumption backdrop. 'This is in contrast to the new car segment, which is expected to moderate after reaching peak volumes in 2024. 'That said, access to financing and interest rates remain accommodative, and we do not see a spike in non-performing loans,' he added. This suggests that while consumers are more selective, credit availability and repayment capacity remain healthy, explained Kee. 'One area to watch is the spillover effect from new car competition into the used car market. We are seeing early signs of pricing pressure on younger used car vehicles in the one-to-three-year range due to heavy discounting in the new segment. 'Meanwhile, despite electric vehicle (EV) promotions intensifying in the new car market, we have not seen a material impact on used car demand. 'We expect the first wave of EV adoption to filter into the used market significantly over the next two years.' Commenting on sales trends in 1H25, Kee said top-selling models across both new and used segments continued to reflect what buyers value most: affordability, practicality and long-term usability. 'Nationally, the Perodua Bezza, Myvi and Axia led new car sales. 'These models consistently perform well not just because of their price points, but because they meet core consumer needs such as low running costs, fuel efficiency and easy maintenance. 'In a more selective spending environment, these qualities matter even more, especially for first-time buyers and value-driven households.' Kee emphasised that brand trust remains a key factor for buyers. 'Perodua and Proton have long established themselves as names that catered well to local conditions. Familiarity, strong resale value and access to service networks all contribute to sustained demand, particularly in the used car space.' He said consumer preference is also shifting toward Chinese brands like BYD and Chery, where perceived value-for-money is beginning to outweigh traditional brand recognition. Whether this trend will extend to the used car market remains to be seen, Kee added.
The Sun
12-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
MARii, Petronas collaborate to bring ADaPTIV to automotive industry
PETALING JAYA: The Malaysia Automotive Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii) and Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) project management and technical services commercialisation arm Petronas Global Technical Solutions Sdn Bhd (PGTSSB), have established a strategic collaboration aimed at revolutionising vehicle maintenance through advanced technology. The collaboration focuses on harnessing the energy company's Advanced Diagnostic and Prognostic Technology (ADaPT), a predictive analytics technology developed to optimise assets' structural performance for the energy sector and applying it to the automotive industry under the ADaPTiV initiative. The partnership was formalised through the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between MARii and PGTSSB, witnessed by Investment, Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Liew Chin Tong. Leveraging ADaPT, driven by artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things, and big data analytics, ADaPTiV is poised to deliver intelligent, real-time predictive maintenance for vehicle components. This innovative technology is set to improve vehicle reliability, enhance safety, prolong component lifespan and offer significant cost savings by optimising maintenance schedules. ADaPTiV features powerful AI-powered predictive analysis that forecasts potential component failures and suggests necessary actions before breakdowns occur. Through IoT integration, the system collects real-time data from vehicle components, enabling condition-based maintenance that is both timely and effective. With big data analytics, actionable insights are generated to improve vehicle operational efficiency and support smarter driving behaviour. The initiative not only responds to the technological needs of the automotive sector but also aligns with Malaysia's national strategic goals. ADaPTiV supports the development of next-generation vehicles and mobility-as-a-service under the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030) and the National Automotive Policy 2020 (NAP 2020), reinforcing the nation's commitment to smart mobility and sustainable transport. MARii CEO Azrul Reza Aziz said the strategic partnership with Petronas is a landmark moment for MARii and the future of mobility in Malaysia. 'ADaPTiV represents a powerful convergence of MARii's automotive expertise and Petronas' world-class predictive analytics, enabling us to build a more intelligent and reliable vehicle ecosystem. This initiative is a direct embodiment of our commitment to fostering local innovation and achieving the ambitious goals outlined in NIMP 2030 and NAP 2020.' Petronas senior general manager of group technical solutions, projects, technology and health, safety, security and environment Mazri Mohd Ali said Petronas is excited to partner with MARii to introduce ADaPT into the automotive sector through ADaPTiV. 'This collaboration is a testament to our commitment to technical and engineering excellence, as we adapt and extend our solutions to new industries. We believe that ADaPTiV will deliver significant value by enhancing vehicle reliability, safety, and operational efficiency, driving cost savings and contributing to a more sustainable transportation landscape in Malaysia,' he added. As part of the collaboration, MARii and Petronas unveiled the first functional prototype of ADaPTiV at the Malaysia Autoshow 2025. The prototype was showcased at the MARii Pavilion, where technical experts provided insights into the technology and answered questions from attendees. The ADaPTiV initiative is expected to deliver enhanced vehicle safety through proactive maintenance, extend component lifespan by enabling predictive and condition-based actions, and reduce unexpected downtime, resulting in significant cost savings for users. Beyond the automotive industry, ADaPTiV has the potential to transform multiple sectors by offering predictive maintenance solutions that improve operational efficiency and drive sustainability.
The Star
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Star
Bridging the infrastructure gaps
KUALA LUMPUR: While Malaysia's ambition to become a regional hub for electric vehicles (EVs) is boldly stated, key infrastructure gaps, logistics inefficiencies and cross-border challenges must still be addressed to realise this vision, according to Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii). Its chairman Datuk Aminar Rashid said Malaysia's established strengths in certain sectors could give it a head start – if structural bottlenecks are resolved. 'In Malaysia, our globally recognised electrical and electronics (E&E) sector positions us strongly to lead in EV and battery component manufacturing, and to support the growing demands of the regional mobility ecosystem.' 'But this vision will only materialise if we bridge infrastructure gaps, modernise logistics networks and simplify cross-border mobility, enabling the seamless flow of goods, services and talent,' he said at the inaugural Asean Automotive Conference organised by PricewaterhouseCoopers Malaysia (PwC Malaysia). Aminar stressed that Asean's diversity – in economic, cultural and social aspects – should not be seen as a barrier but rather a strength, as automotive companies increasingly adopt hybrid approaches that combine regional platforms with local customisation. 'As a region, we have weathered complex supply shocks, shifted trade dynamics and accelerated technological demands, and yet we continue to progress with purpose. 'We believe in the power of regional specialisation, where each Asean country contributes according to its unique strengths,' he said. To power the future of mobility, he added, Malaysia must improve workforce capabilities in software, AI, battery technology, smart systems and data analytics. This includes active collaboration with academia, industry and government to build certification pathways and digital training platforms. In line with this effort, during the event, PwC Malaysia and MARii formalised a memorandum of understanding to advance the automotive sector through shared knowledge, data-driven insights and policy support. PwC Malaysia executive chair Nurul A'in Abdul Latif said the knowledge partnership is not only aimed at advancing the automotive sector in Malaysia, but within the broader Asean region. 'We are committed to deliver data-driven insights and will inform and support Malaysia's automotive policy formulation, investment strategies and long-term industry competitiveness,' she said. She said once defined by combustion engines and steel, the automotive industry today is being redefined by electric power and software machines. 'The new mobility era is not just about vehicles, it is about connectivity, digital ecosystems, clean energy and integrated services,' she said. 'Our region holds significant potential, not just as a production hub but as a fertile ground for innovation and new mobility models. 'But we must also address our structural issues, our regulatory gaps and from workforce readiness to technology integration.' Citing task force transformation as an example, she noted that the cars of tomorrow will rely as much on software as they do on batteries, requiring a shift in talent strategies. 'That means our talent strategy, both acquisition and retention, must evolve. And we must look at re-skilling engineers into data scientists, factory workers into automation specialists and even policy makers into digital regulators,' she said. 'Cars are no longer machines. They are smart, connected and I think in the future will be more opinionated than the drivers themselves. 'So whether your next car runs on electricity or on ambition, the future of mobility will keep evolving with or without you in the driver's seat,' she concluded. After a slow start in vehicle sales for the country in the first quarter of financial year 2025 (1Q25), PwC Malaysia sees a pickup in the coming months, though a slight full-year decline is still likely. Total vehicle sales, also known as total industry volume (TIV), in 1Q25 dropped 7% year-on-year to around 188,000 units, from 202,000 units in the same period last year. In a statement yesterday, the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) announced that TIV in April rose 1% to 60,527 units from 59,900 units in the previous corresponding month. TIV in the first four months of 2025 dipped 5.4% to 248,730 units from 263,050 units in the previous corresponding period. The MAA attributed the lower year-to-date sales performance to the long Hari Raya break (from April 1 to April 6, 2025), as well as the high festive deliveries in March 2025. The sales performance so far this year comes after a record-breaking 2024, which saw nearly 817,000 units sold – the second highest in the region after Indonesia's 866,000 units. The soft start in Malaysia also contrasts with the broader Asean-6 region, where TIV in 1Q25 rose marginally by 0.8% to about 783,000 units, driven by stronger growth in the Philippines, Vietnam and Singapore. PwC Asean automotive leader Patrick Ziechmann said the 7% dip in 1Q25 was largely a result of last year's extraordinary sales performance, which was fuelled by a backlog of orders. 'The 7% dip (in 1Q25) is mainly due to the extraordinary peak last year and this probably is a little bit of a normalisation. 'I don't see the minus 7% for the rest of the year. I think maybe we will see a minus 2% at the end of the year,' he said during the inaugural Asean Automotive Conference organised by PwC. 'This is what I would roughly expect — but probably not the same high number as last year for Malaysia.' PwC expects Malaysia's vehicle sales to dip by 2% in 2025 to around 801,000 units — back to a level the country achieved in 2023. On the EV front, Ziechmann noted that while EV sales grew year-on-year across all Asean-6 markets in 1Q25, Malaysia bucked the trend with a nearly 10% contraction to around 4,000 units, which he attributed to a 'temporary cooldown of automotive sales.' 'Surprisingly, even with Proton's coming into the country, EV sales in Malaysia dropped slightly in the first quarter. But I don't think that this is a continuing basis,' he said. 'In the first quarter we normally see lesser sales globally, and therefore also the EV share might be quite low. We definitely see this changing again — so we see much more EV share in Malaysia as well.' Still, Ziechmann added that Malaysia has some catching up to do with other countries in the region when it comes to EV adoption. Separately, he pointed out that Malaysia stands out globally for its high car ownership, with registered cars per 1,000 driving-age population at 768 — surpassing countries like Germany (730), Japan (630), and the United States (410). He also highlighted the continued strength of Malaysia's national car brands, with Perodua and Proton ranking No. 2 and No. 6 respectively in Asean by volume — despite minimal exports. 'These are purely domestic numbers,' Ziechmann said. On the broader Asean, Ziechmann said TIV for light vehicle use was 3.39 million in 2019, but dropped slightly to 3.29 million in 2024, down from a peak of about 3.5 million in 2023. Ziechmann said main drivers of this dip were Thailand and Indonesia, which fell 25% and 16% year-on-year respectively. In particular, he said last year's 25% drop in the Thai car market was mainly due to the country's huge household debt. 'The 90% of GDP in Thailand is actually the amount of the household debt in Thailand. This is why the banks were asked to restrict their lending, and therefore the market in Thailand is dropping so deep,' Ziechmann explained. Ziechmann pointed to a clear trend in the Asean region where Japanese brands, which have long dominated the market, are losing significant share. 'They lost about 4% last year, and over the last three years, they have lost almost 10%, putting a lot of pressure on the established original equipment manufacturers,' he said. According to Ziechmann, the main beneficiaries of this shift are Chinese marquees, which are gaining ground in the region.
The Sun
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
PwC Malaysia, MARii sign pact to facilitate automotive sector knowledge exchange and advancement
PETALING JAYA: PwC Malaysia and the Malaysia Automotive Robotics & IoT Institute (MARii) yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to advance the automotive sector in Malaysia and the broader Asean region. The MoU signed at the PwC Automotive Asean Conference formalises a partnership that facilitates knowledge exchange and industry advancement between PwC Malaysia and MARii. This partnership is designed to consolidate Malaysia's stature within the global automotive industry, bolster Malaysia's initiatives and leadership during its tenure as Asean Chair and deliver data-centric insights that underpin Malaysia's automotive policy formulation and investment strategies. PwC Malaysia executive chair Nurul A'in Abdul Latif said: 'The automotive industry is undergoing profound change driven by shifts in technology, regulation, investment priorities and consumer preferences. This MoU creates a foundation for more meaningful exchange between policy and industry, helping ensure that efforts are grounded in insight, promotes upskilling through knowledge sharing, and aligned with national priorities. We are excited to partner with MARii to drive industry transformation and provide advisory support, through our expertise in automotive deals ranging from strategic planning to execution and post-deal integration.' MARii CEO Azrul Reza Aziz said Malaysia's long-term industrial strength will depend not only on scale alone, but on their ability to shape and sustain ecosystems that are cohesive and forward-looking. As mobility technologies evolve, he added the country's priority is to ensure innovation translates into real industrial capability and by partnering with PwC Malaysia, they are adding deeper data capabilities and global perspectives to their work, so that national policies can be more responsive to real market trends and investor needs. The conference convened regional PwC leaders and industrial key players to discuss cutting-edge strategies redefining the industry's future, as well as exploring four major trends reshaping the automotive industry – electric, shared, connected and autonomous driving – along with sustainability issues such as the circular economy.
Barnama
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- Barnama
Malaysia Autoshow 2025 Attracts RM1.72 Bln Potential Sales
REGION - CENTRAL > NEWS KUALA LUMPUR, May 19 (Bernama) -- The Malaysia Autoshow 2025 (MAS 2025) concluded its most successful edition yet attracting a record-breaking 294,062 visitors with RM1.72 billion in potential sales, said the Malaysia Automotive Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii). In a statement today, the government agency said the potential sales was generated from 3,194 vehicle bookings and 1,512 prospective trade-ins, along with an impressive 18,824 sales leads. 'Held from May 9 to 15 at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS), MAS 2025 featured over 200 exhibitors and more than 500 vehicles across 50,000 square metres. bootstrap slideshow 'With the theme 'Shifting the Future,' this year's show not only broke attendance records but also deepened public understanding of the rapidly evolving mobility ecosystem,' it said. MAS 2025 drew a record 294,062 visitors, a 31 per cent increase compared to 2024, surpassing all previous attendance records on its final day, largely driven by the extension of the event by two additional days. The event featured 48 new vehicle launches and previews, along with 10,916 test drives on the outdoor track. 'Electrified vehicles (EVs, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles) made up 51 per cent of all models displayed, highlighting the shift to greener mobility,' it said. In a further stride towards next-generation mobility, MARii noted that MAS 2025 also saw the official launch of the Voluntary NxGV Labelling Scheme, aimed at certifying vehicles that meet Malaysia's high standards for sustainability, safety and innovation. It added that MAS 2025 marked a major regional milestone with the ASEAN Unity Drive 2025, a groundbreaking 10,432-kilometre EV convoy across nine ASEAN nations, officially recognised by the ASEAN Records.
