In a first, motor exports top 100,000 in November

In a first, motor exports top 100,000 in November

Monthly vehicle exports exceeded the 100,000-unit mark in November for the first time since Thailand began shipping them in 1988, says the Federation of Thai Industries' automotive industry club.

Vehicle exports hit a record 100,225 units worth 46.6 billion baht last month, up by 1,502% year-on-year.
Club spokesman Surapong Paisitpattanapong said the exceptionally high growth was due to very low exports in November 2011 as a result of the massive flooding.

Year-to-date exports also reached 940,374 units worth 449 billion baht, up by 34.2% year-on-year in volume and 37.7% in value.

November production also reached a record 256,581 units, up by 983% year-on-year, thanks to the low output last year, which also stemmed from the severe flood crisis Year-to-date production reached 2.23 million units, rising by 64.3% year-on-year.

Mr Surapong said the industry is on track to produce 214,988 vehicles this month, bringing the full-year total to 2.45 million, the highest number in Thailand's five decades of automobile production.

The growth momentum will continue this year, but only slightly more with an extra 50,000 vehicles. 

Production of passenger cars in November jumped 1,013% year-on-year to 112,423 units and that of pickup trucks 1,010% to 139,536.

Year-to-date passenger car production increased by 70.6% year-on-year to 859,910 units and that of pickup trucks 59.4% to 1.33 million.

Domestic sales last month surged 468% year-on-year to 148,052 vehicles thanks to the low demand caused by the 2011 flooding.

Year-to-date domestic sales rose by 74.5% year-on-year to 1.29 million vehicles.

Mr Surapong said local motorcycles production increased by 267% year-on-year last month to 254,157 units, while year-to-date production reached 2.9 million units, up by 7.67%.