Thailand's auto production reaches 1.95m units in 2017

BANGKOK, November 22 (TNA) - The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) has raised its target for the country's overall auto production this year to 1.95 million units, from the earlier figure of 1.93 million units, thanks to positive impacts of the recovering national economy. FTI Deputy Spokesman for Automotive Industry Club Surapong Paisitpattanapong told journalists of the updated target on Wednesday, saying that it represents a 0.29 per cent year-on-year increase in Thailand's overall automobile production. The spokesman noted that most of the targeted locally-produced automobiles in 2017, or 850,000 units, are for domestic sale, a 9.42 per cent year-on-year increase from 776,843 units in 2016, while about 1.1 million units are for exports, a 5.76 per cent year-on-year drop from last year. The spokesman attributed the increased auto production in Thailand this year to the introduction of new models of cars and the positive impacts of the recovering national economy, including continual inflows of international tourists, rising farm produce prices and state budget disbursements, growing Thai exports and rebounding private investment. (TNA)