BANGKOK: The Thai automotive industry expects to make 1.8 million vehicles this year, including one million for export, as market demand continues to improve.
According to the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), auto production grew 18 per cent in 2021 from a year earlier to 1,685,706 vehicles.
Exports also rose 30 per cent to 561.1 million baht (RM72mil).
December saw exports rise to a nine-month high of 101,307 vehicles, up 2.5 per cent from November and 48 per cent from the same period a year earlier, reported Vietnam News Agency.
The FTI said vehicle exports to Australia and Oceania rose by 102 per cent, to Europe by 65 per cent and to Central and South America by 122 per cent.
It forecast the situation will continue to improve this year, with Thailand producing 1 million vehicles for the overseas market and 800,000 for domestic sales.
Toyota Motor Thailand president Noriaki Yamashita was quoted by local media as saying that the Covid-19 crisis would continue to affect the Thai economy, but the auto industry would improve gradually in line with overall economic conditions.
He said domestic sales are expected to increase to 860,000 vehicles this year, up 13.3 per cent against last year’s figure.
