AAF says Thailand continues leading auto production

ฺBANGKOK, Jan 2 (TNA) - The ASEAN Automotive Federation (AAF) says Thailand continues to lead in automotive production industry among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) due to Eco Car Phase II programme. President of AAF Piengjai Kaewsuwan said the kingdom continues leading in auto production among the ASEAN group as its members still need to develop auto related industries several years. Mrs. Piengjai said Thailand’s auto production would increase to one million units after nine auto manufacturers have received promotional privileges while another producer with the annual production of 100,000 units would receive the privileges soon. Thailand could also export automobiles as much as 50 per cent of the total production with the Euro 4 standard, she said. The country is now marching towards Euro 5 standard under the Eco Car Phase II programme which would enable the manufacturers to export to Japan and Europe. Auto production in ASEAN in 2014 was about 25 per cent lower than its target of 4 million units due chiefly to Thailand’s production which was slightly over 1.9 million units, lower than the target set at 2 million units. Mrs. Piengjai said auto production in 2015 is projected at over 4 million units on high expectations that Thailand’s economy would sustain growth of between 4 – 5 per cent while global economy especially the U.S. would also improve. It is expected that auto sales in Thailand and the country’s exports would enjoy growth this year, she added. (TNA)