Motor Trade in Malaya.
Page 14
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Should British Manufacturers be Content with Second Place?
Prior to the war, a large and growing business was i being done in motorcars and cycles n the Malay Peninsula. This is not to be wondered at, for the country lends itself to motoring and cycling. In the • Federated Malay States alone there are 2500 miles of • excellent roads through superb tropical scenery. While a fairly 'large proportion of the motor trade was done with this country, the United States manufacturers were well ahead with a supply of cheap cars, and though they had to take second place in 1914 they again went ahead in 1915, the last year for which detailed statistics are available.. British manufacturers being too busy with military require. ments to export many cars, it will be interesting to see who were able to compete with the Americans last year, the round figures for nine months showing that there was a large recovery of business as coinpared with 1.914 and 1915. The statistics of imports at Straits Settlements ports were as follow : 1913 ... 323,824 1914 ... ... 169,201 1915 ... ... 93,622 1916 (nine months) .. 260,983 The value of cycles, motorcars and accessories imported into• the Federated Malay States in 1914 was £129,816 and in 1915 244,060.
It will be seen from the appended table that the bulk of the supply came 'from the United Kingdom and the United States, and British manufacturers would do well to pay special attention to this market when war activities give them the chance of entering upon competition on something like favourable lines. The country, with.-its resources of tin and rubber, is prospering in spite of the war. Planters and miners use motorcars and cycles, but the principal business is probably done with the wealthier Chinese, who are not content in many eases with one car when once they take to motoring. There may also be a great future for motor traction, for although the railway system is an excellent one and serves all the most populous districts, there are new tracts of country being opened up which may have to depend for some years upon other methods of transport. Appended statisties show the main distribution of the trade in cycles, motorcars and accessories :—