Thailand sees record vehicle output, exports in 2012

Output hits a 51-year high, while exports reach highest ever level in Thailand's 25-year history of vehicle exports.

Thailand's vehicle production surged 68.3% year-on-year (y/y) to 2.45 million units in 2012, while exports jumped 39.6% y/y to 1.03 million units, the Federation of Thai Industries said today (25 January). In December, the country's vehicle output and exports more than doubled to 221,353 and 86,297 units, respectively, from a year earlier, when floods disrupted production. The value of car, truck, and bus exports – including detached engines and automotive parts – surged 78.5% y/y in December to 58.5 billion baht (USD1.96 billion), the federation said, without elaborating.