Thailand exported 52,282 cars and trucks in February, up 88.7% from the same month of 2005, Toyota Motor Corp’s Thai unit told Reuters on Monday (27 March).
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Thailand exported 440,640 cars and trucks in 2005, up 32.7% from 332,000 in 2004, the report said.
Toyota exported 21,842 Thai-built vehicles in February, followed by Mitsubishi with 11,959, Ford (5,911), Isuzu (3,833), Mazda (3,631), and Honda (3,505).
Toyota, which compiles auto statistics for the whole industry, reportedly said in a statement it expected exports to rise to 520,000 in 2006.
According to Reuters, Toyota attributed the sharp rise in its exports last year to the company’s IMV (Innovative Multi-Purpose Vehicle) programme focused on using Thailand as a major export base for its trucks and multi-purpose vehicles.
Thailand is now the production hub for Japanese brands’ light pickup trucks, stemming from the popularity of such vehicles in the country.
Mitsubishi late last year announced an a redesigned Triton/L200 range and both Ford and Mazda, which share the same basic truck design, just launched all-new models at the Bangkok motor show.
