BANGKOK: Thailand is the second largest source of new vehicles – mainly trucks – to New Zealand and demand for them is set to increase.
Close to 46,000 new vehicles were exported to New Zealand from Thailand last year, and just over 47,000 came from Japan.
A shipping terminal 130km east from Bangkok, Thailand, exports 40,000 new vehicles to New Zealand every year.
Last year about 160,000 new vehicles came into the country, according to the Motor Industry Association, of which 41,168 were from Laem Chabang.
Namyong Terminal, a roll-on roll-off terminal which services cargo liners and automobile manufacturers, has three wharfs each 697m long and a 17m dredged seaway able to accommodate large vessels.
The majority of vehicles imported from Namyong Terminal, and Thailand, are Ford Rangers – New Zealand’s most popular car three years in a row – and Toyota Hiluxes.
Motor Industry Association chief executive David Crawford said most light commercial vehicles and SUVs shipped from Thailand were manufactured there.