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Thailand’s total rice exports reached 10,474,084 tonnes worth Bt156.63 billion (US$4.61 billion) in the first 11 months of this year, up 19.9 per cent in volume and 14.1 per cent in value. 
Last year saw exports of 8,735,155 tonnes worth Bt137.26 billion (US$3.91 billion), according to the Thai Rice Exporters Association.
Rice exports in November this year alone reached 1,488,049 tonnes, worth Bt22.28 billion, up 98.3 per cent in volume and 87.5 per cent in value compared to the previous month. 
The growth was driven by higher exports of sticky rice and white rice.
The association also predicted that total rice exports in the last month of this year would reach about 800,000 tonnes, bringing total exports for the whole year to a record 11.2 million to 11.3 million tonnes. 

AUTO SALES TO NOVEMBER-END RISE 

Auto sales surged by over 20 per cent in November to 78,082 units, while year-to date sales reached 767,348, a 12.9-per cent rise over the same period last year.
According to figures from Toyota Motor Thailand Co Ltd, the company leads total auto sales standings with an aggregate of 208,755 units, followed by Isuzu with 145,108 units and Honda with 113,305 units.
However in the commercial vehicle market, Isuzu, with 145,108 vehicles sold, has a big lead over Toyota (124,393 units) and is expected to regain its commercial vehicle crown this year.
In the passenger car market, Honda’s lead has been reduced, with 84,449 units compared to Toyota’s 84,362 units.
According to Toyota, auto sales are expected to remain strong in December thanks to economic and political |stability, as well as major |government investment projects. 

CHINA’S JINGCHI EYES MASS PRODUCTION OF DRIVERLESS VEHICLES 

China’s JingChi Corp has set itself the goal of mass producing a fleet of up to 1,000 self-driving vehicles in 2018 – one of the most ambitious production targets in China for such vehicles.
The announcement came as the central government and local authorities work hard to clarify the legal landscape for the vehicles.
The deal between JingChi, a nine-month-old start-up focusing on autonomous cars, and the local government in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province, was revealed on Thursday.
The two parties, together with some financial institutions, would set up an industry fund worth 10 billion yuan (Bt2.5 billion) to explore new business opportunities. – China Daily