On Tuesday, data revealed that auto production in Thailand increased in March as the semiconductor shortage eased. The Federation of Thai Industries reported that auto manufacturers produced 179,848 vehicles in the country last month, marking a 4.16% increase from a year earlier. The production of passenger cars for both export and domestic sales rose, contributing to the uptick.
For the first three months of this year, auto production amounted to 507,787 units, representing a year-on-year increase of 5.77%, according to Surapong Paisitpattanapong, FTI’s automotive industry club vice president and spokesman. Based on the first-quarter figure, car production in 2023 is anticipated to exceed the target goal of 1,950,000 units, as per Surapong’s statement at a news conference.
Surapong also disclosed that the country’s finished car exports rose 4.84% year on year in March to 98,381 units after registering an 11.42% increase in February. However, domestic auto sales in March fell 8.37% year on year due to tighter loans for pickup trucks. Although domestic auto sales expanded 11.73% from the previous month to 79,943 units, Surapong warned of the downward trend in March.