Vehicle sales up 14.5 per cent

Figures from Toyota Motor Thailand and Tripetch Isuzu Sales, the two industry compilers, show passenger-car sales amounted to 67,618 units, up 32.4 per cent, while pickup sales reached 127,490 units, up 6.4 per cent.

The boost for the passenger-car market came from new models that were compatible with E20 gasohol, resulting in lower excise duty and retail price and increased consumer confidence.

Sales last month were boosted by the Bangkok International Motor Show, where almost 20,000 orders for new cars were placed, as well as a positive response from automobile companies to alternative-fuel technology and hard-to-resist sales campaigns.

Rises in fuel prices last month were unable to stop the increase in sales, Toyota said.

From January to April, Toyota was the best-selling brand, with an aggregate of 89,693 units (41.6-per-cent market share), followed by Isuzu with 48,719 units (22.6-per-cent market share), Honda with 27,641 units (12.8-per-cent market share), Nissan with 13,691 units (6.2-per-cent market share) and Mitsubishi with 10,662 units (4.9-per-cent market share).

Last month, 54,479 vehicles were sold. Toyota was also the best-seller with 22,681 units (41.6-per-cent market share), followed by Isuzu with 12,731 units (23.3 per cent). Honda was third with 5,204 units (9.5 per cent) followed by Nissan with 4,528 units (7.5 per cent) and Chevrolet with 2,700 units (3.5 per cent).

Also last month, 15,170 passenger cars were sold. Toyota sold 7,394 units (48.7-per-cent market share), followed by Honda with 4,289 units (28.2 per cent) and Chevrolet with 1,187 units (7.8 per cent).

From January to April, 1-tonne-pickup sales amounted to 119,404 units, up 6 per cent year on year. Toyota led with 46,547 units (39-per-cent market share), followed by Isuzu with 43,068 units (36.1 per cent). Nissan was third with 10,708 units (8.4 per cent), followed by Mitsubishi with 9,010 units (7.5 per cent) and Chevrolet with 4,195 units (3.5 per cent).

The pickup-passenger-vehicle market in the first four months of the year reached 8,086 units, up 11.5 per cent year on year. Toyota led with 4,977 units (61.6-per-cent market share), followed by Isuzu with 2,872 units (35.5 per cent) and Ford with 237 units (2.9 per cent).

Also in the first four months of the year, 67,618 passenger cars were sold, reflecting a surge of 32.4 per cent. Toyota led with 32,926 units (48.6-per cent-market share), while Honda was second with 23,459 units (34.6 per cent). Chevrolet was third with 3,380 units (5 per cent), while Nissan was fourth with 2,649 units (3.9 per cent). German luxury-car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz was fourth with 1,287 units (1.9 per cent), thanks to the popularity of its new C-Class and E-Class models.

Ultimate in Luxury

The Luxury LS 460 is a wonderfully comfaortable car fitted with all mod cons, althoough not necessarily the most fun vehicle to drive.