International auto giants have established their Thai manufacturing plants as strategic regional bases for their businesses in view of crucial advantages of Thailand being the largest and the most quality sources of auto parts in Southeast Asia. To reach the economies of scale, they not only increase production to serve the domestic market, but also to propel in exports.
The 2005 export of CBU was 440,717 units, a 32.72% rise when compared with that in the previous year. The motorcycle export (CBU & CKD) in 2005 was 1,343,337 units, a 61.60% up from that of 2004.
Major car export (CBU) markets were Australia, Indonesia and UK. While vehicle component parts were mostly exported to Japan, US and Malaysia. Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines and US were those export markets for motorcycles and parts.
The country’s automotive exports for the year 2006 were valued at about US$10.7 billion, a growth of 16 percent over previous year. Thailand’s vehicles exports is also expected to grow at more than 15 per cent for the next five years.
Thailand is already a global export hub for one-ton pickup trucks. About 40% of its total production for one-ton pickup trucks is exported.
At the current market situation, locally assembled vehicles account for 95% of the domestic market.
The value of car (CBU) imported in 2005 was 24,472 million baht, a 13.74% increase when compared with that in the previous year. The import of parts and components of vehicles in 2005 was 129,319 million baht, a 7.17% increase when compared with that of 2004.
The total import of motorcycles in 2005 was 1,806 million baht, which had increased by 16.62% from that of 2004. The import of motorcycle parts and components in 2005 was valued for 6,036 million baht, risen by 21.25%, from that in 2004.
