BANGKOK: Honda Automobile (Thailand) has reported a 27% surge in the value of its first-half exports, to 40.8 billion baht. In a statement issued yesterday, the Japanese car maker attributed the growth largely to increasing demand for the City model in Asia-Pacific and the recent launch of the all-new HR-V sport crossover vehicle.
Honda’s exports from Thailand of completely built-up vehicles in particular increased by 78% year-on-year to 19 billion baht, driven by strong demand for Honda models in Australia and the Middle East.
You might also like
The City, HR-V and Jazz were top export models, accounting for 70% of the total. Exports of completely knocked-down vehicles rose by 3% in value to 19.7 billion baht on demand from Honda factories in Indonesia, Malaysia and South America for assembly of their domestic models. “We’re pleased with the export performance of Thai operations in the first six months of 2015 despite sluggish sentiment overall,” chief operating officer Pitak Pruittisarikorn said. “Among our key export markets, the six-month results reflect the remarkable success in Australia with models such as the HR-V, Jazz and CR-V, in the Philippines with the Jazz and Mobilio and in the Middle East with the City.”
From its Thai production base, Honda also exports supporting products such as spare parts and accessories as well as and jigs and moulds for automobile production lines.
Exports of automobile spare parts and accessories increased by 25% in value to 1.6 billion baht thanks mainly to the increasing demand in Indonesia, India, Vietnam and Cambodia.
Honda started automotive exports from Thailand in 1997 and continues to gain recognition for its high production standards.
The Thai operation is Honda’s largest in Asia-Pacific outside of Japan, with 6,000 employees and annual capacity of 300,000 vehicles.
