The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) still forecasts car sales at 800,000 to 850,000 vehicles, or a rise of 5.4% to 12%.
According to Surapong Paisitpattanapong, a spokesperson for the FTI’s automotive industry division, the forecast is supported by easing of travel curbs and economic recovery.
According to the FTI, domestic car sales in Thailand fell 17.2% in December 2021 from a year earlier and dropped 4.2% in the whole of last year, due to coronavirus outbreaks and a shortage of microchips.
The FTI said car sales totaled 86,145 units in December and 759,119 vehicles in all 2021, slightly above target.
Car exports, however, jumped about 48% in December from a year earlier and rose 30.4% in the whole of 2021, the FTI said. It predicts car exports to rise by 4.3% to 1 million vehicles in 2022.
Thailand is a regional vehicle production and export base for the world’s top carmakers, including Toyota, Honda and Mitsubishi.
The industry accounts for about 10% of Thailand’s gross domestic product and its manufacturing jobs. (NNT)
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