Car bookings increased 13.6% at annual Bangkok motor show

Car bookings at the 43rd Bangkok International Motor Show, which ended this month, increased by 13.6% to 33,936 units, with electric vehicles (EVs) attracting interest from drivers after the government’s EV incentive package.

The sales increase in the midst of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic due to marketing campaigns and the state-backed promotion of EVs, said Jaturont Komolmis, vice-chairman of the motor show and chief executive of Grand Prix International Plc, which organized the 12-day event.

“Internal combustion engine-powered vehicles still dominated the bookings, making up 31,896 units of total bookings, an increase of 14.4%,” he said.

Toyota came at first, with 5,128 car orders, followed by Honda (3,019), Mazda (2,906), Isuzu (2,594) and Mitsubishi (2,553).

EV bookings also boosted by 10% to 2,040 units, with SAIC Motor-CP and MG Sales (Thailand), the producer and distributor of MG cars, receiving the highest orders, followed by Great Wall Motor (GWM).

About 1.57 million people visited the event, which was organized under strict Covid-19 screening.

The event was expected to increase domestic car sales, but the Thai Automotive Industry Association earlier expressed concern that the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war is threatening to cause a shortage of automotive parts for European automakers, which will affect worldwide supply chains and car assembly in Thailand.