Malaysia April auto sales down 18.2 pct yr/yr

KUALA LUMPUR, May 18 (Reuters) - Malaysia's total vehicle
sales fell 18.2 percent to 41,135 units in April from a year
earlier, a trade body said on Monday.

Sales were down 7 percent from March after banks imposed
higher interest on car loans, the Malaysian Automotive
Association said in a statement.

Passenger car sales fell 18.5 percent to 37,259 units in
April from a year ago.

"Sales volume for May is not expected to improve," it said.

April 2009 April 2008

(units) (units) Passenger
cars 37,259 45,723
Commercial vehicles 3,876 4,556

- - - - - - - -
Total 41,135 50,279

(Reporting by Julie Goh; Editing by Liau Y-Sing)