limguanengmymasterhero

Vehicle exports for June were down on the same month last year by 45.53 per cent to 35,403 units, Surapong Phaisiahatthnapong, spokesman of the Automobile Group at the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) reported on Wednesday.

I think we all wish we had this kind of statistical information available in Thailand. Compare this with the data available on the "Thai Automotive Institute" web site.

The government may improve tax incentives for eco-cars to stimulate the economy, says Suwit Khunkitti, minister of Natural Resources and Environment. He said a government panel seeking solutions to delays in the programme to build small, fuel-efficient cars could favour a "green tax" incentive"The more reductions in carbon emissions and the greener technology for engines [that carmakers can provide], the more green tax incentives they would receive," he said.

The Chinese are trying to buy the famous HUMMER....

Electric vehicles from China.... makes sense to me. China's domestic car industry still has to catch up many years to be able to compete with the west. In the electric car sector, they could become a serious player much more quickly. At a price of 200,000 to 300,000 Baht, I think they might sell..... (Comment above by Uli Kaiser)

Canadian auto parts maker Magna, Belgium-based investment fund RHJ and China's BAIC have all filed formal bids to take over General Motors' struggling subsidiary Opel, GM Europe said on Monday.

One-tonne pickup trucks performed worst, lagging far behind other segments in the first half of this year, according to Tri Petch Isuzu Sales Co. Pickup sales for the period fell by 35.95% year-on-year to 112,869 units.

India's Ashok Vichare, 55, a resident of Mumbai, today became the proud owner of a silver Tata Nano, the first delivery of the world's cheapest car.

The domestic automobile market this year is likely to be far worse than in 2008 because of the global recession and local political instability, says Ninnart Chaithirapinyo, the vice-chairman of Toyota Motor Thailand. Total sales for 2009 are expected to drop 22% year-on-year to 480,000 units, while 2008 sales slipped only 3% year-on-year to 615,000 units, he said.

The automobile market witnessed a 28.01 per cent drop in sales in the first six months of this year, when a total of 231,428 units were sold, according to data compiled by Tri Petch Isuzu Sales.

Manufacturers of eco-cars may be awarded a two-year tariff reduction of as much as 90% on imported parts, as Thailand is striving to revive the sluggish automotive industry. The goal is to attract carmakers to turn the country into a major production base for fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly compact vehicles.

Check out Mike Diamente's article on quality improvements.

Numbers include May 2009.

Bridgestone's Thai subsidiary, Bridgestone Bandag Manufacturing (Thailand), is to invest Bt5.2 billion in a manufacturing plant in Chon Buri to produce retread materials for tyres.

The Board of Investment plans to reduce import duties on materials and parts for eco-cars, to reduce prices and encourage buyers.

Auto Alliance Thailand (AAT), the 50-50 joint venture of Ford Motor and Mazda Corp, opened its new $500-million compact car plant yesterday aimed at positioning Thailand as a global manufacturing hub for the two international automakers.

Thailand's struggling automotive industry is expected to see a revival by the first or second quarter next year, says Vivek Vaidya, director of the Asia-Pacific automotive and transport practice with the industry consultancy Frost & Sullivan. Based on the current scenario, total vehicle sales are projected to drop by 29% year-on-year to 434,000 units this year from 615,000 units sold in 2008. Sales of pickup trucks could decline 32% to 226,000 units and those of passenger cars by 14% to 195,000 units.

The Thailand Competitiveness Conference 2009 will kick off today in the Grand Ballroom of the Four Seasons Hotel in Bangkok. Speakers will discuss how to boost the Kingdom's competitiveness. The two-day conference will be hosted by the Thai Institute of Directors Association in cooperation with the Thailand Management Association, the Board of Trade, the National Economic and Social Development Board and the Stock Exchange of Thailand.

Motorists are paying more at the pump today after oil companies increased the price of petrol by 0.50 baht per litre and gasohol by 0.70 baht a litre.