Thailand will become one of the top ten automobile manufacturers within the next five years, with an annual output of 3 million units. The forecast was made by Surapong Paisitpatanapong, spokesman for the Automobile Club of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI). Surapong also said that while the sector was badly hit by the Japanese tsunami and the floods in Thailand, the government's first-car tax rebate will help the industry recover quickly. Thailand currently figures fifteenth in the ranking of manufacturers with 1,458 million cars sold in 2011 (-11,40%).
For next year, forecasts for the sector appear positive: the automobile and spare parts industry seems to have been less affected by the global economic crisis than other sectors in the country. In the first six months of the year, exports in fact grew by 21,2% year on year and the average monthly production was around 200 units. Total production between January and August was 1,48 million cars, up 33% year on year.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/marketing/313156/car-industry-gunning-for-spot-in-top-10
