Thailand produces nearly 2.5m automobiles in 2013

BANGKOK, December 21 (TNA) - The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) says that 2.48 million automobiles were produced in Thailand throughout this year. Surapong Paisitpattanapong, Spokesman of the FTI's Automotive Industry Club, told reporters that Thailand's auto production this year was higher than 2.45 million units last year, when the country's automobile production made a new high in 51 years and made Thailand become the world's 10th biggest automobile producer, although this year's auto production was lower than 2.55 million units as earlier targeted. Surapong reported that 2,298,193 vehicles were produced in Thailand during the first 11 months of this year, a 2.95 per cent increase year on year. Of them, the spokesman noted, 1,039,974 vehicles were produced for exports, accounting for 45.25 per cent, and 1,258,219 vehicles were produced for domestic sales, accounting for 54.75 per cent of the overall production. According to the spokesman, Thailand's exports of completely-built vehicles amounted to 1,040,191 units during the first 11 months of this year, forming 100.02 per cent of total export-oriented production and rising by 10.61 per cent year on year; while the value of the country's exports of completely-built vehicles stood at 471.72 billion baht. From January to November this year, the export value of automobiles, engines and parts amounts to 691.73 billion baht, a 6.2 per cent year on year increase, while the export value of completely built vehicles, engines and parts, as well as motorcycles and their parts stood at 744.23 billion baht, a 8.06 per cent year on year increase. (TNA)