Southeast Asia's new vehicle sales increase

Southeast Asia's new vehicle sales increase

SINGAPORE (AFP): New vehicle sales in Southeast Asia's four
biggest markets rose by a lower-than-expected 12.4 percent in the
March quarter due to the global economic downturn, an industry
monitor said Wednesday.

Internal political problems plaguing the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) also contributed to the slower
sales growth, Automotive Resources Asia Ltd. (ARA) said in its
latest report.

New vehicle sales in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and
Thailand in the first three months of the year totaled 227,292
units, up from 202,220 units last year.

"ASEAN's slowly recovering regional economy -- which has been
negatively affected by recessionary signs in the U.S. economy and
its own internal problems -- have caused new vehicle sales in the
first quarter of this year to be lower than expected," said ARA
senior associate Chabaphrai Srinont.

The Indonesian market posted the biggest increase, with sales
rising 18 percent to 60,159 units from 50,794 vehicles.

But a strike at the Toyota plant in Indonesia depressed sales
for its best-selling "Kijang" utility vehicle to only 730 units
in March, ARA said.

Malaysian car sales climbed 15.8 percent to 87,624 units from
75,660, while Thailand saw the figures improve 12.2 percent to
61,495 from 54,786.

New vehicle sales in the Philippines for the quarter totaled
only 18,014 units, down 14 percent from 20,980.

The first quarter saw the fall in a popular uprising of Joseph
Estrada in the Philippines and the rise to power of President
Gloria Arroyo in January.

Indonesia, ASEAN's largest member, remains mired in a
leadership crisis and ethnic tensions.

Malaysia's national car Proton remained the most popular make
with a 21-percent share of the market, followed by Toyota with 15
percent, and Mitsubishi and Isuzu with 11 percent each.

The rest of the market is shared by Malaysia's Perodua and
Japanese car-makers Honda and Nissan.