Big four ASEAN auto markets post 8.0 percent growth in 2001

Big four ASEAN auto markets post 8.0 percent growth in 2001

Motor vehicle sales in Southeast Asia's top four markets grew 8.0 percent to 1.069 million units in 2001 from 989,884 units the previous year, according to an industry report released Monday.

Automotive Resources Asia Ltd. (ARA) said the growth momentum was expected to remain strong this year in the four markets covered -- Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand.

"Vehicle demand in ASEAN's (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) big four markets remained healthy with respectable sales growth in 2001," said Bangkok-based ARA's associate May Arthapan.

"We are looking for the trend to continue through 2002," she said.

On an individual basis, however, sales in Indonesia and the Philippines fell 0.32 percent to 299,607 and 8.67 percent to 76,670, respectively.

ARA gave no reason for the sales drop in the Philippines but said the Indonesian market, the second biggest, was affected by a major flood that hit the country late last year.

It caused December auto sales to plunge 38 percent to 15,896 units from 25,709 units in the same period in 2000.

Malaysia was the biggest market with 396,381 units sold in 2001 and it also posted the biggest rise of 15.5 percent from 2000.

Thailand, the third biggest market, saw sales rise 13.3 percent to 297,052 units from 2000.

ASEAN, a 10-member grouping, also includes Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore and Vietnam.

Malaysia's Proton and Japanese giant Toyota led the manufacturers with a share of 19 percent each, followed by Mitsubishi and Isuzu with 11 percent each, Malaysia's Perodua with 10 percent, and Japan's Nissan and Honda with six percent each. -- AFP