Thailand’s auto production on the rise

BANGKOK, February 22 (TNA) - Thailand’s auto production in January 2017 totaled 152,561 units, an increase of 3.12 per cent and 12.13 per cent from the corresponding period of last year and from December 2016 respectively. Surapong Paisitpattanapong, Spokesman for Automotive Club of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), told journalists of the updates on Wednesday, acknowledging that the increase in auto production last month was mainly for sedans for domestic sales, recorded at 55,322 units, a 17.62 per cent year-on-year jump, while the production of motorcycles stood at 222,183 units, a 7.65 per cent year-on-year increase. The spokesman reported that overall domestic auto sales last month reached 57,254 units, a 10.5 per cent year-on-year increase, although domestic sales of motorcycles alone dropped by 8.32 per cent year-on-year, at 147,224 units. The spokesman noted, however, that Thailand's auto production for exports dropped by 3.65 per cent year-on-year last month, at 96,939 units, in line with a 14.53 per cent year-on-year fall in the country's exports of completely-built vehicles, at 80,097 units, the lowest level in 19 months. The spokesman revealed that a drop in pick-up truck exports to all markets, except the Australian and the North American markets, was the main cause of a decline in Thai auto exports last month even though exports of motorcycles soared by 18.85 per cent year-on-year, at 85,637 units. (TNA)