Bangkok--3 May--Aziam Burson-Marsteller
Exports projected to exceed 95,000 million baht by year-end
Asian Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Honda’s Bangkok-based Asia- Oceania Regional Headquarters, announced that exports from Thailand for the first quarter of 2007 were up 25% over the same period of 2006, reaching a value of 24,448 million baht. Based on the successful performance recorded in the first quarter, total exports for the year are anticipated to exceed 95,000 million baht.
Thailand has been a major export center for Honda since 1987, including automobiles, motorcycles, power products, completely knocked down (CKD) kits, spare parts and accessories.
“Honda’s exports in the first quarter increased by 25% over the first quarter of 2006,” said Mr. Tatsuhiro Oyama, President and CEO for Asian Honda Motor Co., Ltd. “This success was mainly driven by our CBU automobile export growth to Australia. In the first quarter, CBU automobile export volumes increased 77% from 11,382 units to 20,194 units and the value increased by 111% to reach 10,805 million Baht. Much of this growth is attributable to strong acceptance of our products from customers, especially the new CR-V, which we started to export to Australia and the Philippines.
“Honda is improving the cost competitiveness of our manufacturing by increasing the local content of our products in countries throughout the Asia & Oceania region. To take full advantage of Thailand's cost advantages, Honda recently moved production of high-tech, precision-engineered automobile parts such as electric control units, crankshafts, camshafts and connecting rods here. So while CKD automobile exports value have slightly decreased by 13% to 5,410 million baht, Honda will see solid recovery in the second quarter as we start to export these high-tech, precision-engineered parts from Thailand,” added Mr. Oyama.
Exports for Honda power products including multi-purpose engines and spare parts enjoyed a solid increase due both to the expanded range of models offered as well as growing demand in key European, USA and Japan markets. In the first quarter, export volumes for these products increased 11% to 460,977 units and the value increased by 6% to 2,713 million baht.
Exports of Honda motorcycles and CKD kits showed a slowdown in the first quarter due to changes in the new models exported to Europe and an increase in local content in Asia & Oceania countries. Total motorcycle exports value declined by 1% to 4,859 million baht.
Honda is one of the world’s leading producers of advanced technology mobility products. It is the world’s largest manufacturer of clean, fuel-efficient internal combustion engines and the largest producer of motorcycles. By the end of 2007, Honda in Thailand will export 445,808 million baht cumulatively worth of automobiles, motorcycles and power products.
Media information, please contact:
Asian Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
Anjali Jalichandra Tel. (0) 2236-0256 ext 1500 Email: [email protected]
Waraporn Pongpaiboon Tel. (0) 2236-0256 ext 1552 Email: [email protected]
Aziam Burson-Marsteller
Satida Sritunyatorn Tel. (0) 2252 9871 Email: [email protected]
Nattakarn Chamsuwanwong Tel. (0) 2252 9871 Email: [email protected]