Kwanchai Paphatphong is quite happy with car bookings at the country's main annual motor show this year despite the number falling short of its target.
Visitors throng the 31st Thailand International Motor Expo at Muang Thong Thani, which ended on Wednesday. Inter-Media Consultant Co, organiser of the exhibition, reported 44,972 bookings of cars and motorcycles during the 12-day event. PHRAKRIT JUNTAWONG
The president of Inter-Media Consultant Co, organiser of the 31st Thailand International Motor Expo from Nov 29 to Dec 10 at Impact Muang Thong Thani, expected vehicle bookings to top 50,000 during the 12-day event, with 1.5 million visitors and 54 billion baht in circulation.
But the expo reported bookings of 44,972 vehicles, 1.38 million visitors and estimated money circulation of 52 billion baht.
Toyota posted the top orders at 7,830 cars, followed by Honda at 6,719, Nissan 4,318, Isuzu 4,227 and Mitsubishi 4,196. For luxury cars, Mercedes-Benz secured 1,414 orders and BMW 965.
Orders for premium and big bikes jumped to 2,718, up by 29.4% from last year's event. Honda led with 548, followed by British Triumph at 497 and Kawasaki with 241.
Passenger cars made up 57.1% of total bookings, with sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) at 17.8%, pickup trucks 17.7% and others 7.4%.
One noteworthy takeaway is average car prices bought at the event rose to 1.14 million baht from 1.05 million last year, as consumers paid more attention to small passenger cars, SUVs and luxury models.
"Higher booking orders and average car prices indicate rising consumer confidence," said Mr Kwanchai, who has run the show for more than 30 years. "Politics is more stable than last year, while car makers were aggressive in making bookings."
Last year's event happened amid anti-government demonstrations, with some taking place at the Government Complex on Chaeng Watthana Road close to Impact Muang Thong Thani. As a result, last year's expo posted 41,083 orders, down by 52.2% from 2012, with 46 billion baht in circulation.
Sompop Patipanthada, general manager of marketing at Honda Automobile (Thailand), said new models helped car buyers to make their purchasing decisions faster.
Honda launched seven new models with minor changes: the City, Civic, Jazz, Accord Hybrid, Mobilio, CR-V and HR-V.
Mazda recorded 1,527 bookings of the new eco-car Mazda2 at the expo even though the specifications and exact prices had not been disclosed yet.
Sureethip La-Ongthong Chomthongdee, marketing director at Mazda Sales (Thailand), said technology was a key selling point for buyers. The Mazda2, powered by a 1,500cc diesel engine, is the first diesel-compatible eco-car.
"If the vehicle meets buyers' requirements, it can be sold without price discounts even in a sluggish market," she said. "Of course, price discounts are very attractive to buyers, and car makers can increase their market share, but such tactics are not sustainable and would make companies lose their margin."
Mr Kwanchai forecasts the country's overall domestic market will increase next year to between 900,000 and 920,000 sales compared with an estimated 800,000 sold this year.
"This year, the domestic market hit its lowest level, but I see a light at the end of the tunnel for Thailand's automotive industry next year," he said.
