Thai vehicle sales declined 10.5% year on year to 47,881 units in September, according to the Federation of Thai Industries, with rising economic and political uncertainty continuing to deter buyers.
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The country remains deeply divided politically and the stand-off between the government and opposition activists is far from being resolved.
In the first nine months of 2008, vehicle sales fell by 2.2% to 461,258 units, with first-half gains more than wiped out in the third quarter.
Like the electorate, the market was also very divided – with sales of passenger cars rising sharply in September – by 19.1% to 18,687 units. In contrast, commercial vehicle sales, comprising mostly one-tonne pick-up trucks, fell 22.8% to 29,194 units, as the recent rises in fuel prices and growing economic uncertainty continued to feed into the market.
Replacements of pick-up trucks, in particular, are being delayed. Toyota’s Hilux model is approaching the end of its life cycle and sales fell by almost 26% to 9,652 units in September.
The company hopes that the launch of its slightly face-lifted model in August will help slow the decline.
Isuzu retained segment leadership for the second consecutive month after sales rose by 2.3% year-on-year to 10,255 units in September.
Tony Pugliese
