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