Thai September New Vehicle Sales +62.5% On Year To 36,585

Monday October 14, 2002

BANGKOK -Dow Jones reported that Thailand's monthly new vehicle sales in September recorded its highest growth this year with a 62.5% jump on year to 36,585 units, according to data issued by Toyota Motor Thailand Co. Monday.

Total new vehicle sales for the January-September period surged 37.9% to 288, 337 units from a year ago, Toyota said in a statement. The company compiles sales figures for the Thai automobile industry.

Toyota forecast that total domestic vehicle sales this year would rise to 380, 000 units, in line with improved domestic economic conditions, from 297,000 last year.

The sharp growth in September's new vehicle sales was mainly due to higher sales in all segments, Toyota said. Passenger car sales in the month rose 32.9% on year to 11,727 units, while sales of commercial vehicle jumped 81.7% to 24, 858 units from a year ago.

In the commercial vehicle category, the best-selling one-ton pickup trucks recorded a 81% on-year increase in sales to 21,352 units, Toyota said.

In September, Toyota again led in overall vehicle sales with 11,560 units, representing a 31.6% share of the market. The company sold a total of 91, 586 vehicles by the end of September, or 31.8% of all the vehicles sold in Thailand during the first nine months.

Isuzu sold the second highest number of vehicles in September at 8,452 units, or a 23.1% market share, followed by Honda Motor (J.HMC) with 5,440 units, or a 14.9% market share.

The best-selling non-Japanese motor brands in Thailand during the month were from Ford Motor at 2,386 units, or a 6.5% share of the overall market, followed by DaimlerChrysler AG's Mercedes Benz with 477 units or a 1.3% market share.

Toyota in September led the passenger car segment with a 38% market share, followed by Honda with 32.7% and Nissan Motor Co. with 9.6%.

But Isuzu dominated the commercial vehicle market in September with a 34% share, followed by Toyota (28.6%) and Nissan (9.9%).