Sales and production of cars in Thailand

In the field of car production, Thailand is starting to see some light on the horizon again. After a more favorable tax measure, Toyota, Ford and Mazda have decided to invest more extensively in Thailand, including in Chonburi and Rayong.

There is still sufficient growth to be achieved in the sale of cars. Only 13.8% of Thai households own a car. In Japan, on the other hand, this is 86,5 percent.

This fact gives me a strange and contradictory feeling when you sometimes drive on congested roads in Bangkok or elsewhere in Chonburi. The second thing that inevitably emerges, how can so few motorists make it to the top 10 countries with the most fatal accidents in the world? Maybe a button flips when a Thai gets their hands on a steering wheel? A kind of macho behavior without insight.

New car sales increased by 3% this year, with the Mazda 3 set to become a bestseller. Until the end of June, 3618 cars were sold “over the counter”. This means a market share of no less than 11% for this segment.

There will also be changes for the “grey” market. Numerous independent dealers imported cars in parts and assembled them in Thailand. In this way they often paid 50% less in import duties. However, these cars will also be checked for quality and emission values ​​in the future. in addition, these cars will also have to be inspected. Failure to do so could result in a hefty fine or imprisonment. But a Thai solution will also be found for this and that with the well-known Thai smile.

Sources: der Farang and director Suraphan from Laem Chabang (Auto Body Work).