Most of Thailand’s major automobile makers have regained production capacity since March of this year, according to The Nation. In August, year-to-date total sales hit a record 859,417 vehicles, reflecting a 47% growth compared to the corresponding month in 2011.
Aside from the increased production capacity, the high growth rate was also attributed to the country’s First Car Buyer Program, which enabled the passenger car segment to increase its share of the total market by almost 50%, a first in the Thai auto industry’s 50-year history. The government’s subsidy for first-time car buyers have allowed major brands to enjoy tremendous sales growth, and “growing brands” such as Mitsubishi, Nissan, Mazda, Ford and Chevrolet are also registering dramatic increases in sales. (September 17, 2012)