31st Bangkok International Motor Show - Opening Ceremony

The 31st Bangkok International Motor Show kicked off this morning at BITEC Bangna and the message is cautiously upbeat and plenty of optimism that the strategically important automotive industry here is all set to bounce back from the deep effects of the global economic recession, which has singled out and savaged this sector across the world, and is ready for a strong period of growth here. This is in terms both of retail, with car makers prepared for bumper orders at the show and in terms of Thailands desired position as a manufacturing and export hub, with both expected to benefit as output surges upwards this year.

While the European and North American car industries have suffered over the last year with shrinking car sales being propped up by incentives and a glut of capacity, Asia has been best-placed to weather the storm and to get itself into pole position to take full advantage of the recovery. Thailand has a strong domestic manufacturing base, in much part due to the huge import duties that are levied, and a range of carmakers such as Ford, Toyota, Mazda and Nissan, all use the country as a springboard to produce cars to sell across the region. Here the message is one of cautious confidence with manufacturing output set to climb significantly in 2011.

The 31st Bangkok International Motor Show (the city has two international motor shows per year, the other taking place on the other side of the urban sprawl each December at the Impact Arena) everyone hopes will help to kick start the recovery. Taking orders and deposits is an important part of the event and last years tally of 18,000 bookings is expected to be topped with over 20,000 forecast over the next week and a half and this could bring in as much as 45 billion baht, a very useful booster for the industry. And for the first time this year the show has the approval of the OICA (Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs dAutomobile), the body that sanctions the worlds most important motor shows and this status is a significant symbol of the events growing prestige. This means that the standard of the exhibits and organization carries the same global standard, said Dr Prachin Eamlumnow, Chairman of the shows Organizing Committee, adding that the booths of each company are similar to those at other major auto shows such as Frankfurt or Tokyo. At our show the parent company is involved from booth building to products to be shown, he added. The shows status is amplified by the marketing budget, which has risen this year from 40 to 60 million baht.

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