SE Asian auto sales up 9 %

SE Asian auto sales up 9 %

Agence France-Presse, Singapore

Motor vehicle sales in major Southeast Asian markets continue to rise despite the economic slump, increasing 9.0 percent in the first 10 months of the year, an industry monitor said Thursday.

A total of 881,232 units were sold in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines between January and October, compared to 805,125 in the same period last year, Automotive Resources Asia Ltd. (ARA) said in a report.

Malaysia recorded the biggest growth, rising 15 percent while Thai sales were up 14 percent and Indonesia rose five percent. In the Philippines sales were down 12 percent.

"Sales in most ASEAN markets remain strong through October despite the slowdown in the regional economy," ARA associate May Arthapan said, referring to the Association of South East Asian Nations.

"Growth in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia more than offset the decline in the Philippines. We expect the trend to continue as the year comes to a close."

Malaysia's October sales totaled 38,388, 25 percent up on the same month last year, while Thailand sales rose 15 percent in the month to 24,278.

However, Indonesia's October sales were down 10 percent to 27,836, and the Philippines was down seven percent at 6,937 units.

The Malaysian market was the strongest of the four with 327,843 vehicles sold in the first 10 months, and its national carmaker Proton was the leading manufacturer, with a 20-percent share of the four markets.