BANGKOK, Oct 19 – Domestic auto sales in September hit a record high, totalling 132,680 units, an increase of 52 per cent year-on-year, according to the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI).
Surapong Paisitpatanapong, spokesman for the FTI’s Automotive Industry Club, said car production rose for domestic sales to order under the government’s first-time car buyer programme.
Auto production in September amounted to 228,500 units, a 31 per cent increase year-on-year, hitting a record high since 1961.
Auto production from January to September this year reached 1.7 million units, 32 per cent higher than the same period last year.
Auto production for export in September 2012 reached 40 per cent of overall production, an increase of 2.8 per cent year-on-year, while auto production for domestic sales in September amounted to 135,675 units.
Meanwhille, Payungsak Chartsutipol, Chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) reported the Thai Industries Sentiment Index (TISI) in September 2012 has stayed at 94.1,dropping from 98.5 in August. It is the fourth consecutive month drop and the index is below 100 for the third month consecutive month, indicating poor confidence on the part of entrepreneurs.
Major factors, having an impact on business people’s confidence in September are concerns over the world economy, export slowdown, increasing production cost due to higher raw materials and labour costs.
According to the survey, entrepreneurs are concerned most over impacts from the global economy, followed by oil prices, currency exchange rate, local politics and loan interest rates, respectively.
