Thailand's auto sales in Jan-May 2013 hit new record high

BANGKOK, June 18 (TNA) - Thailand's automobile sales during the first five months of this year hit a new record high, boosted mainly by those of sedans which soared by 53.4 per cent year-on-year. Vudhigorn Suriyachantananont, Senior Vice President of Toyota Motor Thailand Co., Ltd., told reporters on Tuesday that automobile sales in Thailand totaled 634,777 units during the January-May 2013 period, a 31.4 per cent year-on-year surge and a new record high. Vudhigorn acknowledged that Thailand's sales of passenger cars expanded the most by 53.4 per cent year-on-year during the first five months of this year, followed by those of commercial vehicles by 16.3 per cent year-on-year, resulting partly from the deliveries of vehicles under the government's first-car buyer scheme and the introduction of new car models and promotions. Vudhigorn reported, however, that Thailand's auto sales declined by 3.5 per cent year-on-year in May 2013, totalling 111,848 units, representing the first-time drop in 17 months, as most buyers under the government's first-car buyer scheme had already received their ordered cars. According to the Toyota's senior vice president, Thailand's auto sales last month comprised of 52,734 passenger cars, down by 5.8 per cent year-on-year, 59,114 commercial vehicles, down by 1.4 per cent year-on-year, and 49,664 one-ton pickup trucks, down by 4.8 per cent. The Toyota's senior vice president said there are also signs of a slowdown in Thailand's auto sales in June, as the domestic auto market is returning to its normal condition after a leap last year. (TNA)