Car production in Thailand for 2015 is projected at 2.2 million units, while export is set for 1.2 million units, said Surapong Paisitpattanapong, vice chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries.
Surapong is also FTI’s automotive industry group head.
Sales in the country could increase to one million units this year, depending on government disbursement and investment in mega projects as well as on government financial assistance to agriculturists.
Exports of cars in 2015 are projected at 1.2 million units, almost equal to last year which stood at about 1.13 million units, he said.
But this year’s exports could be affected by a slowdown of car exports to Russia due to its weakened ruble, ongoing fighting in the Middle East and the deadly Ebola outbreak in Africa.
He said the weakening of the Japanese yen and the slowdown of car exports to China are other major factors which could affect Thailand’s car exports this year.
Auto production in Thailand in 2014 stood at 1.88 million units, down 23.5 percent from the previous year, Surapong said.
Domestic sales were at 881,832 units, a decrease of 33.7 percent from the year before.
