KUALA LUMPUR: Sales of Perodua Bezza have outstripped the sales of new Proton Persona by three-fold although launched only a month apart.

Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Ahmad Maslan (pix) said that 22,799 Perodua Bezza had been sold since its launch on July 21 this year compared with only 7,646 Proton Persona which was launched on Aug 23.

He said the brisk sale of the Bezza was because of its fuel efficiency and not car quality.

"The perception differs from reality. The main reason why more consumers choose the Bezza is because it is an energy efficient vehicle (EEV)," he said when answering a question by Dr Che Rosli Che Mat (PAS-Hulu Langat) in Parliament Thursday.

Dr Che Rosli said there was a public perception that the Bezza was better in terms of quality control than the Persona, which suffered problems with its power windows.

He added that Perodua captured the lion's share of overall car sales last year, selling 213,307 units or 36.7% out of 591,298 cars sold.

"Proton came in at second with 102,175 cars sold or 17.28% followed by Honda with 94,904 units or 16.05% and Toyota selling 65,295 units or 11.04% ," he said.

Other models sold last year include Nissan (41,941), Mercedes (10,859), BMW (7,515), KIA (4,674), Volvo (619) and others (50,011).

To a question by Ahmad Nazlan Idris (BN-Jerantut), Ahmad said that Proton Holding Berhad has shortlisted three foreign car manufacturers in a bid to sell a stake and raise money to turn around the company.



"Proton is in discussion and negotiations with the companies.

"A final decision is expected to be announced by the first quarter of next year," he said, not naming the companies involved.

It was reported that Proton had short-listed several companies out of 14 car manufacturers.



