Bangkok--15 Jan--Toyota Motor
Automobile sales in Thailand reached 615,270 units in 2008, posing a 2.5 percent decline, while the 2009 market is expected to plunge by another 15.4 percent to 520,000 units, Mr.Mitsuhiro Sonoda, president of Toyota Motor Thailand (TMT) Co. Ltd., said in a press conference today.
Mr. Sonoda said that combined Toyota’s sales in 2009 are expected to reach 221,000 units, down 15.7 per cent compared to 2008 and equivalent to a 42.5 percent market share.
Mr. Sonoda said: “The year 2008 was a very interesting year. It began very strong with 1st quarter results being nearly a 17% increase. The 2nd quarter of the year, however, we began facing a world-wide fuel crisis. This caused a significant reversal in the industry sales trend with a very moderate gain of 3.6% being made. With fuel prices continuing to escalate throughout the next quarter, and the initial affects of the global financial crisis beginning to take hold, industry sales, experienced a sharp decline less than the same period of the previous year. Unfortunately, this trend continued through the 4th quarter of the year, and due to increased political unrest during the final quarter which ended with a 14.6% decline. So for 2008, Industry sales totaled about 615,000 units, or a 2.5% decline from 2007”
“All of the decline in 2008 came from the 1-ton pickup segment. The sharp decrease in pickup trucks was led by high diesel fuel prices, the general economic decline that effected commercial vehicle users, and the lack of alternative fuel support for diesel engines. In the year 2008, 1-ton pickups in declined at 17.6% versus 2007. In contrary, the passenger car market headed toward record levels finishing the year at 226,805 units, or a 33.3% gain over the previous year. The main reasons for the growth in passenger cars was due to many new product introductions during the year, a decrease in prices as a result of the governments tax reductions for E20 fueled vehicles, and excellent fuel economy of small passenger cars.”
Auto sales in 2008
Total sales 615,270 units down 2.5%
Passenger cars 226,805 units up 33.3%
Commercial vehicles 388,465 units down 15.8%
1-ton pickup trucks (including PPV) 334,282 units down 17.6%
1-ton pickup trucks (excluding PPV)) 311,470 units down 18.6%
For Toyota sales performance, we achieved 42.6% market share and achieving the “Triple Crown” for 4 consecutive years, with totaled 262,209 units or 7% decline. Toyota passenger car sales resulted 106,853 units or 15.5% improvement over 2007. We also sold 141,000 1-ton pick-ups, which amounted to 18.4% decline versus 2007.”
Toyota auto sales in 2008
Toyota total sales 262,209 units down 7% 42.6% market share
Passenger cars 106,853 units up 15.5% 47.1% market share
Commercial vehicles155,356 units down 18% 40% market share
1-ton pickup trucks (including PPV)
141,249 units down 18.4% 42.3% market share
1-ton pickup truck (excluding PPV)
127,208 units down 19.7% 40.8% market share
“In terms of export, Toyota’s CBU export sales for 2008 were at record levels also at 313,000 units, an increase of 32%. The value of these exports totaled 134 Billion Baht. In addition, we exported 28,800 containers of OEM parts to other countries with a value of 44 Billion Baht” Mr. Sonoda said.
As for the market trend in 2009, Mr, Sonoda said:
“We foresee the domestic automobile market for 2009 at about 520,000 units, down 15% from this past year. This will be comprised of 205,000 passenger cars and 269,000 1-ton pickups, which 252,000 units are for Pure Pick-up. The forecasted market for 2009 of 520,000 comes from following the trend established during the 4th quarter of last year and we feel this trend may continue throughout 2009. We expect Toyota sales to total 221,000 units in 2009, a similar drop to the industry of 15.7% from last year. We expect to maintain our market leadership in both categories and achieve a 42.5% market share.”
“We still foresee good market potential. We believe that the economy of Thailand is fundamentally strong, although we will certainly feel the effects of the world-wide recession in the months ahead. Fuel prices have appeared to stabilize at reasonably low levels which should give added confidence to commercial vehicle buyers. Moreover, we still see substantial market demand, as evidenced by the country’s car ownership Ratio, as depicted in these tables. The right hand table shows a big potential to create new customers in up-country locations, and potential of new vehicle replacement cars for Bangkok area customers.”
2009 auto sales projection
Total sales 520,000 units down 15.4%
Passenger cars 205,000 units down 8.6%
1-ton pickup truck (including PPV) 269,000 units down 19.1%
Commercial Vehicle 315,000 units down 19.0%
2008 Toyota sales projection
Total sales
221,000 units down 15.7% 42.5 % market share
Passenger cars
91,000 units down 14.9% 44.4 % market share
1-ton pickup truck (including PPV)
117,800 unts down 16.6% 43.7% market share
Commercial Vehicle
130,000 units down 16.3% 42.3% market share
Mr. Sonoda added: “The pickup market is very important to the growth of the automobile market and in the past pickup trucks made up as much as 60 per cent of the market, but the figure dropped to 50 per cent last year. In 2009 we will give importance and promote the pickup truck market, which is an important market for the growth of the total automobile market while maintaining the current sales level of passenger cars. This will not only benefit the Thai automobile industry but also for the general Thai economy as well. We also urge the Thai government for support in terms of economic stimulus measures in order to create consumer confidence as well as increase consumer purchasing power, apart from policies that will help develop the automobile industry in terms of raising competitiveness.”
“Apart from trying to reach our sales targets, we must also stress upon the company’s cost management and maintain intense and continuous marketing activities in order to help create business opportunities, along with carrying out our determination to create maximum customer satisfaction and maintain our success in both the JD Power and TAQA rankings. In addition, we will still continue our plan of producing environmentally-friendly vehicles by introducing the Camry Hybrid and another CNG vehicle, as well as giving continuous support to activities for the society and environment in manydifferent ways for the benefit of the Thai society,” Mr. Sonoda concluded.
Mahasamut Saisawan
Public Affairs Office
Toyota Motor Thailand Co.,Ltd
Tel: +66 2 305 2065
Fax: +66 2 305 2014 - 5