Southeast Asian Automakers Report Mixed 2013 Results

TOKYO – Asia’s auto markets reported mixed results in 2013 with Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines all registering growth in production and sales while Thailand reported a decline in sales and flat production.

Indonesian automakers produced a record 1.2 million vehicles, up 13% from the previous year’s high. According to the Association of Indonesia Automotive Industries, 2-wheel-drive vehicles accounted for 70% of output.

Of the production total, exports rose to 276,287 units, up from 273,490 in 2012. Imports totaled 154,014 units, up from 125,873, and accounted for 12.5% of record sales of 1,229,901 units.

Small, low-emission, high-fuel-efficiency cars sold under Indonesia’s Low Cost Green Car program totaled 52,956 units.

Malaysian auto production grew 5.5% in 2013, rising to 601,407 units, up from 569,620 in 2012. Sales also grew to record levels: 655,793 units, up from 627,753 in 2012. Cars accounted for 88% of sales and 90% of production.

In the Philippines, vehicle deliveries grew 16% to a record 181,283 units, according to a report in the Philippine Star newspaper. Car sales rose 26% to 61,083 units while demand for commercial vehicles, still accounting for two-thirds of sales, grew 11% to 120,000.

Thailand remained the region’s largest market with sales and production of 1,330,672 and 2,457,057 units, respectively, according to the Thailand Automotive Institute. Production was unchanged from 2012 while sales fell 7%.

Exports, accounting for 46% of production, rose 10% during the year.

Looking forward to 2016, Fourin, a Nagoya, Japan-based forecaster, predicts production in the four countries will grow to 3.5 million in Thailand, 2.3 million in Indonesia, 1.1 million in Malaysia, and 207,000 in Philippines.

Elsewhere in in the region, Fourin predicts production in Taiwan and Vietnam will increase to 600,000 and 346,000 units, respectively.