The ASEAN automotive industry registered positive growths both in sales and production with all countries, except Myanmar, reporting higher sales as of July this year.
Data from the ASEAN Automotive Federation showed the region’s automotive sales went up 27.5 percent to 1,507,331 units from 1,182,291 units in the same period last year. Also, motor vehicle production rose 38.3 percent to 1,959,307 units from 1,417,089 units.
In terms of sales, the region’s largest market –Indonesia- posted a 60.8 percent increase to 460,105 units in the first seven months this year from 286,215 units in the same period last year. Thailand’s sales grew a modest 9.7 percent to 425,633 units from 387,975 units while Malaysia improved by 10.2 percent to 256,215 from 232,423 units last year.
Carsales in Vietnam posted robust growth of 26.9 percent t 166,516 units from 131,248 units while the Philippines contributed total sales of 154,265 units or 46.1 from 105,583 units sold in the same period last year. Sales in Myanmar dropped considerably to 154,265 units from 105,583 units.
In terms of production, ASEAN countries were able to ramp up output to 1,959,307 units or 38.3 percent higher than the 1,417,089 unit sales in the same January-July period last year.
The biggest producers in the seven month period were Thailand with 967,764 units or 39.2 percent higher than 695,468 units last year followed by Indonesia with 588,881 units from 394,056 units for a robust 49.4 percent growth.
Malaysia’s cars output improved by 14.2 percent to 244,063 units from 213,648 units while Vietnam ramped up production by 47.9 percent to 107,505 units.
The Philippines was able to improve production by 48.4 percent to 50,046 units from 33,715 units in the same period last year. Myanmar was the lone country in the negative category, dropping production by 86.1 percent to 1,048 units from 7,515 units.