Automakers Enjoy Strong September Sales in Thailand

Thailand’s new-vehicle market heads into the big-selling final quarter of the year with a solid 21.9% gain in September to 77,592 units.

The result pushed the nine-month total up 11.5% to 620,715 units.

Toyota Thailand, which collates national sales for the industry, says September saw new-car sales rise 14.9% to 29,474 units. Light-commercial-vehicle deliveries accelerated 26.6% to 48,118 units, including the 1-ton pickup truck segment ahead 23.8% at 37,967.

The year-to-date car segment was up 20.0% at 244,627 units, while CV sales were ahead 6.7% at 376,088, including the 1-ton pickup market up 7.2% at 303,126.

Vudhigorn Suriyachantananont, executive vice president-Toyota Thailand, says the CV market was boosted by the popularity of new models and automakers’ ongoing promotions.

Vudhigorn says prospects of sales growth continue to look good.

“The seasonal sales index indicates that the final quarter is the highest-selling season,” he says. “With promotional activities and special offers from car (dealers) preparing to meet sales goals of the year, it is a positive factor for the car market.”

Toyota continued to lead the market in September, but its lead narrowed.

Its monthly total fell 6.8% to 20,654 units, while Isuzu soared 61.0% to 16,784 – all CVs – and Honda rose 20.5% to 10,630.

The car market saw Toyota down 10.9% to 8,035 units, just ahead of Honda, up 16.4% at 7,822. Mazda followed, up 33.3% at 3,276 units.

Isuzu led the CV segment with its 16,784 units, while Toyota dropped 4.1% to 12,619 and Ford climbed 34.0% to 4,906.

Within the CV market, Isuzu topped the 1-ton pickup segment, rising 73.3% to 15,461 units to put it ahead of Toyota, down 14.7% at 10,485 and Ford, up 34.0% at 4,630.

With three quarters of the year completed, Toyota still dominated the Thai market despite falling 4.0% to 165,713 units. Second-place Isuzu rose 13.9% to 118,804 units, ahead of Honda, up 14.4% to 93,271.

Honda led the car segment, up 16.4% at 69,282 units. Toyota followed, up 7.5% at 65,213 units, with Mazda – up to second from fifth in the J.D. Power 2017 Thailand Sales Satisfaction Index – up 29.0% at 26,342.

The nine-month CV segment totals saw Isuzu rise 13.9% to 118,804 units, with Toyota down 10.2% at 100,500 and Ford up 38.9% at 39,034. The 1-ton pickup segment saw Isuzu climb 15.6% to 108,627 units, with Toyota down 12.0% at 92,941 units and Ford up 39.5% to 36,915.