Auto firms bank on Motor Expo
AUTOMOBILE companies are hoping to reap a significant number of orders at this year's "Thailand International Motor Expo", due to major excise-duty changes that take effect next month.
Although engine displacement is still considered, vehicles with lower carbon-dioxide emissions will enjoy lower excise rates starting on January 1, while those with higher emissions will suffer from a significant increase in taxation.
As a result, auto-makers are wooing customers with last-chance offers for large-displacement passenger car models, as well as for SUVs and pickup trucks that will see price increases of up to Bt100,000-plus next year.
In fact, several companies are already offering new reduced prices for models that enjoy lower taxes, for example eco-cars such as the Mitsubishi Mirage and Mazda2.
Auto sales in the country have plunged by 13.6 per cent so far this year due to the economic crunch and high household-debt levels, and auto-makers are expecting the total market to finish the year at just 750,000 units.
Show organiser Kwanchai Paphatphong said that with 1.5 million visitors expected to show up at Muang Thong Thani from today until December 13, as many as 53,000 orders are expected to be placed.
"We expect as many as 50,000 orders to be placed for automobiles, and another 3,000 for big bikes, with as much as Bt55 billion in transactions throughout the show," he said, adding that more than 10 new car models are being featured this year.
"This is the last chance for car buyers to enjoy current prices before the new tax comes into effect, and this will help boost the automobile market considerably," Kwanchai said.
Brands taking part this year include BMW, Carlsson, Changan, Chevrolet, DFSK, Ford, Foton, Fuso, Honda, Hyundai, Isuzu, Jaguar, Lamborghini, Land Rover, Lexus, Mazda, McLaren, Mercedes-Benz, MG, MINI, Mitsubishi, Moke, Nissan, Peugeot, Porsche, Sammitr Green Power, Subaru, Suzuki, Swift, TATA, Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo.
Motorcycle brands include Benelli, BMW, Ducati, GPX, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki, Keeway, KTM, Royal Enfield, Suzuki, Triumph, UDA, Vespa and Yamaha.
Meanwhile, Tesla Automotive’s contract to participate in the expo has been terminated after Tesla Motors Asia Pacific, which overlooks Tesla sales in Asia-Pacific markets, informed organisers that the local company had not been appointed as the official distributor.
"According to Tesla Motors Asia Pacific, the authorised distributor for Thailand has not been appointed. We have been requesting proof of distributorship from Tesla Automotive since the contract-signing in September, but the company has been postponing it until the deadline. So we need to terminate the contract and give the space to others," Kwanchai explained.
According to Tesla Motors Asia Pacific, the brand has official distributors in only five markets in the region: Australia, Japan, China, Hong Kong and Macau.
In mid-November, Tesla Automotive, which is a newly formed joint-venture company between Thai and American investors, staged a press conference in Bangkok, confirming its participation in the Motor Expo and official entry into the Thai auto market, boasting highly optimistic sales of 10,000 next year and putting up 200 EV (electric vehicle) charging stations around the country.
Hyundai, Toyota, MG and Subaru are showing concept vehicles at the show, while new models on display include the BMW 7 Series, Honda BR-V, Isuzu D-Max 1.9 Ddi, Jaguar XE, Lamborghini Huracan Spyder, McLaren 570S, Mazda CX-3, MG5, Mercedes-Benz GLE, Nissan X-Trail Hybri and Subaru Levorg.
