Thailand's auto industry emerges among world top ten

BANGKOK, January 25 (TNA) - Thailand produced more than 2.45 million units of automobiles last year, 1.03 million units of which were exported to overseas market, making the Kingdom's auto industry now emerge among world top ten. Surapong Paisitpatanapong, Spokesman of the Automotive Industry Club under the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), reported on Friday that Thailand produced over 2,45 million units of vehicles last year, the highest record in 51 years, making the Kingdom now become the world's 10th largest automobile manufacturer. Surapong acknowledged that Thailand's auto production last year jumped by 68.32 per cent year-on-year, boosted mainly by the government's policy on a tax rebate for first-car buyers, followed by the accelerated production of auto makers in the wake of the country's flooding crisis in late 2011 and the growing demand for automobiles worldwide. According to the spokesman, Thailand's exports of automobiles also stood as high as over 1.03 million units, a 39.56 per cent year-on-year increase and a new high in 25 years, making the Thai Kingdom now become the world's 7th largest automobile exporter; while domestic sales of automobiles stood at over 1.44 million units last year, a surge by 80.9 per cent year-on-year and also a historic high. The FTI assessed that Thailand is likely to produce about 2.5 million units of automobiles this year, half are foreseen to be exported and the other half of which are expected to be for domestic sales. (TNA)