A total of 86,297 vehicles were exported in December, up 146.24% on December 2011 but down 13.90% on November last year, Surapong Paisitpatanapong, spokesman for the Automotive Industry Club, said on Friday.
The export value for the month stood at 40.76 billion baht, an increase of 139.12% on December 2011, said Mr Surapong.
Car exports for 2012 were up 39.56% year-on-year to stand at 1,026,671 units, a record high in the 25 years since the country began exporting cars in 1988. This made Thailand the world’s 7th largest car exporter. Export value for 2012 totalled 490.13 billion baht, up 42.74% year-on year, he said.
Car output in December stood at 221,353 units, an increase of 122.63% on December 2011, but a decline of 13.73% on November.
Total 2012 output rose by 68.32% year-on-year to 2,453,717 units, lifting Thailand to 10th place among the world’s largest car producers.
Domestic car sales over the month totalled 144,676 units, up 165.10% on December 2011, but down 2.41% on November
Domestic car sales for 2012 were up 80.90% year-on-year to 1,436,335 units, also a historic high.