Thailand New-Vehicle Sales Plunge in November

Thailand’s new-vehicle sales collapsed under massive flooding in November, with the once-buoyant market plunging 67.5% to just 25,664 units.

Toyota Thailand, which collates sales for the Thai industry, says overall new-car deliveries tumbled 62.1% to 12,746 units, while commercial vehicles plummeted 71.5% to 12,918.

Within the CV segment, 1-ton pickup-truck sales slid 78.6% to 8,431 units.

Toyota Thailand Executive Vice President Wutthikorn Suriyachantanano says in a statement that even though several auto makers were able to resume production in November, their output was sharply lower because of parts shortages.

Total new-vehicle sales through November rose 4.6% to 739,506 units, due to strong results in the first nine months of the year. Passenger-car deliveries climbed 8.8% to 334,618 units, while CVs edged up 1.3% to 404,888.

“December sale figures should continue the fall because of the floods,” Wutthikorn says.

“Most auto makers have resumed operations, and some industrial estates have recovered. Although production levels are not normal, it is a good sign for the overall economic picture of the country.”

Government spokesman Chalitrat Chanthrubekkha tells the Bangkok Postthe flooding has damaged at least 8,413 factories countrywide, causing losses of at least TB229 billion ($7.3 billion). The data were compiled from a survey of 90% of affected manufacturing plants in 42 provinces.

Ayutthaya, where the heavily flooded Rojana Industrial Park and Hi Tech Industrial Estate are located, and where Honda’s idled plant is located, topped the damage there at more than TB169 billion ($5.4 billion).

November sales data shows Toyota still leading the overall market, even though its deliveries plunged 88.0% to just 4,047 units. Mitsubishi fell 12.7% to 3,557, ahead of Nissan, down 36.9% to 3,294.

Honda led the passenger-car segment for the month, despite sales falling 69.8% to 2,835 units. Nissan followed, down 12.1% to 2,686. Perennial segment-leader Toyota dropped to third place, with deliveries falling 85.6% to 2,127.

Mitsubishi led the 1-ton pickup segment with sales down 3% to 3,214 units, ahead of Isuzu, down 85.8% to 2,029. Toyota followed, plunging 94% to 1,025.

Despite its dismal results, Toyota led the total market through November with deliveries down 4.7% to 275,265 units. Isuzu was second, down 8.4% to 123,953, followed by Honda, down 19.9% to 81,754.

Toyota also led the new-car market with sales up 4.2% to 131,165 units, followed by Honda, down 19.0% to 75,974 and Nissan, up 53.9% to 41,586.

The 11-month 1-ton pickup market saw Toyota in first place, down 11.5% to 128,835 units. Isuzu was second, down 10.2% to 112,885. However, third-place Mitsubishi’s sales surged 99.3% to 53,306.

Toyota continued to lead the CV market, including 1-ton pickups, with deliveries down 11.6% to 144,100 units, ahead of Isuzu, down 8.4% to 123,953.

Chevrolet and Ford remained locked together in the battle for American supremacy in the Thai market. Chevy took the lead in November with sales jumping 51.5% to 2,355 units, while Ford dropped 2.5% to 2,078.

That left Chevy’s year-to-date deliveries up 59.2% to 27,244 units and Ford’s is up 147.9% to 27,044.