Thailand International Motor Expo 2009 - Final day views

The 26th Thailand International Motor Expo 2009 ended on Sunday evening after eleven busy days at Impact Arena in Muang Thong Thani and was judged an all-round success, a real shot in the arm for the Thai car industry as more than 25,000 new cars and light commercial vehicles were ordered during the show. I'm back the very end of its run, the final day seeing the crowds peak as almost a fifth of the show's sales are booked on this day. There is more than just the myriad of OEM and trade stands in the Challenger Hall as outside enthusiasts gather for owners' get-togethers and modified, tuned and customised cars create mini light shows while pumping out sounds through a mass of speakers.

In the end 25,220 cars were sold at the show, beating pre-event estimates by 10,000 units. Topping the list of the best-sellers was Japanese giant Toyota which took 7,230 bookings, with Honda (4,239) a distant second, while Isuzu (2,539), Mazda (2,277) and Mitsubishi (1,518) rounded out the top-five most in-demand. All these are involved in the local car industry and the figures are boosted by sales of pick-up trucks which are very popular here. In sixth place, and the first non-Japanese carmaker, was Korea's Proton (1,388) which doesn't benefit from either pick-ups or a local base; its new Exora MPV launched at the show accounted for nearly 60 percent of its orders over the last week-and-a-half. European brands fill out only a niche position here due to sky-high import duties, BMW with 415 sales taken on a stand made up of sharply contrasting soft blue runways that swept around its space which was packed out with its full model range, was the big winner at the 26th Thailand International Motor Expo 2009 while it's ,MINI brand which is regarded as a true fashion accessory in a city that prides itself on western style, collected 54 orders. Fiat's MINI rival, the former European Car of the Year award winning 500 hatchback notched up 15 sales including one of the special designer-wrought 500 by Diesel versions. After BMW, Volkswagen (233) was the next-best selling European brand name, while Volvo (85), which has a long tradition of assembling its cars in Thailand, rounded out the top-three. Next up were the French PSA Group twins, Citroen (73) and Peugeot (52), while European interest was wrapped up with Land Rover (24), Audi (21) and Skoda (18). Chery (267) represented China in the vast Challenger Hall while Tata Motors (339), which brought along its tiny low-cost Nano, meant that the Indian automotive industry was also on show.

Probably the star of the show was the new Ford Fiesta which made its Asean debut at the show; it is to be produced locally and is expected to be a big sales winner in the region. It will go on sale in Thailand in "a few months time" according to Ford. Since the new Fiesta, the sixth-generation of this car, went on sale in Europe last year more than half a million units have been sold and the five door hatch shown at the Impact Arena will be joined in the showrooms here next year by a sedan version. Ford itself took 404 orders at the show, demand coming for both its Ranger pick-up and the new Focus.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

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[kk26324]

3:27 good.

[JAZZ1231231]

Is this motor show or fashion show?

[racenemo]

When my Thai wife dresses like these ladies

she doesn't dare to leave the house no more

[xNzzyz]

Hellyeaaah

[Willeveloce]

Really good.