Slowly, but ever so surely, the Thai market is maturing. The endless stream of pick-ups has started to slow down. Remembering that pick-ups have enjoyed a tax break which other vehicles do not get, this was the incentive the Thai market needed. The pick-up reigned supreme.
However, as the average Thai wage improved, and the automakers began offering cheaper cars, it was not quite so cut and dried in the comparison of pick-up versus sedan.
Hyundai Elantra.
And with the eco-car category less than 500,000 baht, the pick-up was dealt a devastating blow. Not a knock-out, but a TKO if nothing else.
In the eco-car class (or price) there is the Nissan March, the new Mitsubishi Mirage, the Honda Brio, a new Suzuki and the Chevrolet Spark.
Under a million baht you have plenty of choice too, with the Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Ford Focus, Chevrolet Aveo and the Kia Rio. Unless you are ferrying a buffalo and a family of 17, why would you buy a pick-up?
