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Published on April 29, 2008

The Nation

In terms of value, at Bt88.9 billion the exports represented a 29.88-per-cent increase. Inclusive of parts and accessories, total value was Bt128 billion, up 34.67 per cent year on year.

The FTI also revealed that in the first quarter, Thailand produced a total of 365,623 vehicles, up 24.52 per cent year on year. Of these, 201,603 units, or 55.14 per cent, were destined for export, while 164,020 were for the domestic market. Those numbers represent year-on-year increases of 31.51 per cent and 16.87 per cent, respectively.

Of the total number of vehicles made, passenger cars accounted for 101,912 units, up 46.28 per cent year on year. Of these, 48,891 units were exported. The remaining 53,021 passenger cars were for the domestic market, illustrating the level of recovery from last year's stagnant growth to a 56.2-per-cent annualised increase in production for local sales.

One-tonne pickups accounted for 258,606 units in the first quarter, up 18.47 per cent year on year. Of these, 152,712 were exported, up 29.89 per cent. The number destined for the domestic market was only 105,894, representing a mild increase of only 5.15 per cent year on year.

Thailand also manufactured 798,694 motorcycles in the first quarter, down 1.47 per cent year on year.