Thai automotive exports increased for the first time in 14 months in August, on the back of a recovering global economy, the Bangkok Post reports.
Last week, the automotive industry club of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) announced that auto shipments in August jumped 9.26% to 102,907 units due to increased demand in every region it exports to except the Middle East and Africa. The value of the vehicles exported last month rose 6.19% to 54.2 billion baht.
Club spokesman Surapong Paisitpatanapong said shipments to Oceania grew by 32.6% to 33,086 units, while exports to the rest of Asia increased by 2.11% to 25,406 units. Based on last month’s figures, the car manufacturer’s club sees potential in Europe, North America and Latin America.
“We predict positive numbers for Thailand’s vehicle shipments in the four remaining months this year. Pick-up truck exports last month rose 7.05% to 62,313 units and this segment is projected to prop up the sector,” he said. Year-to-date exports for cars are down though, by 7.46% to 729,328 units.
The original projected total export figure for 2017 was 1.2 million, but that was recently revised to 1.1 million, which is 7.5% lower than the 2016 total. The downward revision was because of reduced demand from the Middle East, which used to be a major importer.
On the domestic front, auto sales grew for the eighth consecutive month in August, up 6.8% year-on-year to 67,962 units. That contributed to a year-to-date sales growth of 10.2% to 543,120 units. The biggest contributor is pick-up trucks with 228,922 units (up 8.6%), closely followed by passenger cars at 215,150 units (up 20.7%). SUV sales rose 0.7% to 33,635 units.
A main boost to the Thai auto scene is the rejuvenated Eco Car segment, boosted by the recent launches of the Toyota Yaris facelift and new Yaris Ativ sedan. Both 1.2L compact cars have typically low price tags, but now come with seven airbags and VSC as standard.
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Total export alone is 1.2 million cars.
Thailand so much smarter not to have a national car project after all.
Proton cost us Billions in loss per year
Aiyoo..Proton sangat kemaluan lah.
nope. wrong. malaysia was doing the right thing by having national car project. we had transfer of technology, knowledge and created jobs as well as business opportunities to sublet vendors.
what went wrong was – proton did not had the ability to find the right direction and grow big in the world market. vehicle quality, parts quality, technical support and weak after sales network were among those proton failed to realise.
proton was also slow to response to market changes. for example – retaining proton waja for 8 years in market. and for some stupid reason – had 3-4 cars in the C segment namely Waja, Gen2, Persona, Inspira at the same time.
Tongkat syok sendiri lettew..
Bullseye!
China also export million of iPhone. But that not make they ‘own’ Apple.
Wow, Thais are so clever. Can export 730,000 cars. Imagine how much of money they are making.
All this Malaysia lost. We were once the Detroit of Asia but because of kebodohan, we lost all the business to Thailand.
We lost also hundreds of USD billions of investments the past 20 years as well as losing hundreds of thousands of jobs for Malaysians.
All went to Thailand!
1st time in 14 months? So according to basher logic: tomyam minister what he doing, tido minum kek lapis kah?
cannot compare MY who always eat ketupat and sleep
So shy Malaysia is not competitive
Who say we are not Detroit of Asia?
Detroit in Michigan now under Chapter 9 Bankruptcy protection since 2009.
We are still the Detroit of Asia!!
Detroit is in tatters thanks to stupid Liberal Democrat’s admin n policies.. hail conservatism, hail the right!
Bla bla bla bla.. . The grass will always be greener on the other side. If you like that side so much, then get out!
Haha, I would prefer Ativ rather than Myvi, Bezza or proton’s brand.
A car that accelerates slower than my grandma walking on crutches? Please dun come here and selowpoke hog the roads. Tenkiu.
Taboleh…Abang mau cari makan mah
Tax 1k each cars for export. You don’t need oil after that
Thailand says thanks to TDM & Proton. 1.1Million units annual export is quite an achievement.
Meanwhile, Malaysia is very proud of Protons export numbers.
Not this stupid comment again