Fewer cars sold in 2006
Thailand's auto sales this year are expected to fall to 680,000 units, 7 per cent below the original target and 3 per cent below last year's level, says the president of the Thai Automotive Industry Association.
Suparat Sirisuwannangkura, also vice president of Toyota Motor Thailand, told Krungthep Turakij that during the first 11 months of the year, demand for 1-tonne pickups, which account for 60 per cent of the domestic market, had been declining by 7 per cent year on year. Even though passenger-car sales rose 5 per cent, that could not help the overall market."Next year, economic conditions, oil prices and the strong baht will remain major problems for the auto industry," he said. Meanwhile, the appreciation of the baht against the US dollar has forced auto-makers to raise their export prices 10 per cent. However, foreign dealers objected to the plan and cut orders. "If the baht keeps strengthening, the entire industry may need to review its export target next year," Suparat said. The Federation of Thai Industries' auto club calculated that next year, Thailand's auto-makers would produce 1.284 million vehicles, or 92,000 units - 7.72 per cent - above this year's level. Out of the total, 606,000 units will be earmarked for export, or 47.2 per cent of total production. The remaining 678,000 units, or 52.8 per cent, will be for the domestic market. The auto club estimates that exports will increase 11.81 per cent next year, or 64,000 units, while domestic sales will increase 4.31 per cent, or 28,000 units.
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