At the recent Perodua media conference, the second Malaysian carmaker revealed that it has 220,000 backlog orders remaining. Around 15,000 of those orders were made during the sales tax (SST) exemption which ended on 30-June 2022.

Perodua CEO Dato' Sri Zainal Abidin Ahmad told the media that some of the cars might not be able to meet the registration cutoff time which ends on 31-March 2023. However, the carmaker said it will absorb the SST for those cars that would not be delivered in time for the cutoff date.

“Based on our current studies and planning, we realized it would be impossible for all of our customers who have booked their cars during the PENJANA (SST exemption) period to receive their cars in time before 31-March,” Zainal informed the media.

Also read: MoF: No extension for SST cut, grace period to register your car extended to 31 March 2023

“But rest assured, we believe our customers are important and Perodua will absorb the sales tax even if the cars are delivered beyond 31-March,” he continues. “If the customer places an order to enjoy tax exemption and we can’t deliver in time, we must honour them.”

Out of the 220k orders awaiting to be delivered, a number of them include the outgoing Axia which is being replaced by the all-new D74A Axia. The Perodua CEO informed to the media that some customers who have yet to receive their Axia would be offered the all-new Axia instead.

Also read: Perodua confirmed D74A 2023 Perodua Axia to be a bigger car, hints to crossover previewed by X Concept?

“Production of the outgoing Axia is ending soon while the new (D74A) Axia has already started production around January,” Zainal said. “We have already expected that some of these customers will not be getting the older Axia but we will subsidise their sales tax if they agree in getting the new Axia.”

Also read: Here are the latest updated waiting period for 2023 Perodua models

“For example, if the previous Axia’s sales tax costs RM 1,500 while the new Axia’s sales tax costs RM 2,000, (Perodua) will subsidise the latter,” he explains.

Perodua has announced that bookings are open for the all-new D74A Axia with prices estimated between RM 38,600 to RM 49,500. You can expect a long waiting time for Perodua’s newest entry-level model given how many unfulfilled orders remain.

Also read: Priced between RM 38.6k-49.5k, 2023 D74A Perodua Axia is up to 13% pricier than before but loaded with more features