Thai motorcycle production makers ready to ‘gear’ up as sales pick up speed

The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) anticipates a surge in Thai motorcycle manufacturing during this year’s final quarter, following a period of slow sales.

This optimistic forecast was made earlier this year by the FTI’s Automotive Industry Club (AIC), based on an uptick in tourism and the easing of the semiconductor shortage. July saw a 12.7% year-on-year increase in local sales to 150,779 units.

However, the positivity was short-lived as domestic sales in August fell 6.8% year-on-year to 160,123 units. Motorcycle production also witnessed a drop in August, with a 23.7% decline to 186,930 units.

Surapong Paisitpatanapong, the AIC spokesperson and the FTI’s vice-chairman attributed this decline to consumers’ weak purchasing power and more stringent loan criteria set by banks for motorcycle and car purchases.

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