The organiser of a major auto show is hopeful of impressive sales figures despite the ongoing political protests.
The 30th Motor Expo opened yesterday to the press. It runs until Dec 10 at Impact Muangthong Thani. PATTANAPONG HIRUNARD
Anti-government demonstrations are taking place all over Bangkok including the Government Complex on Chaeng Watthana Road, which is close to Impact Muang Thong Thani, the venue where the Thailand International Motor Expo is being held.
But the organiser remains positive that purchase orders at the major auto sales event that takes place every year-end will top 50,000 units, worth 50 billion baht.
"The rallies started in late October and as long as they don't turn violent, we expect the event will go smoothly," said Kwanchai Paphatphong, president of Inter-Media Consultant Co, which is organising the 30th Thailand International Motor Expo until Dec 10. This year's concept is Innovative Energies-World-Changing Vehicles, focusing on global climate changes and energy risks.
The concept is supported by five automakers which are presenting their innovative vehicles such as Honda's NSX, Hyundai's HND-6, the Mercedes-Benz GLA, the MG Icon and Nissan's Friend-Me at the event.
Altogether, 38 brands are displaying their vehicles at the 85,000-square-metre Challenger Hall.
However, Mr Kwanchai said he and other automakers are closely monitoring the rallies.
Mr Kwanchai admitted that this year's event is unlikely to beat the phenomenal success of last year's show, which was spurred by generous tax rebates under the government's first-time car buyer scheme.
The 2012 edition saw a record 85,904 orders placed before the government's first-car incentive expired at the end of December, with 1.65 million visitors, an increase of 25.6% a year earlier.
Circulated money at last year's event surged to 76 billion baht, a significant increase from 29.5 billion baht in 2011 and 36.05 billion baht in 2010.
Three-quarters of the orders took advantage of the excise-tax rebate of up to 100,000 baht, depending on the model, under the first-car buyer programme.
But he added this year's figures would fare far better than the 27,021 orders placed in 2011, the year of the devastating floods, and 33,058 orders in 2010.
According to the organiser, the year-end event will see several automakers step up releasing undeliverable vehicles in the rebate scheme.
There is currently a backlog of around 130,000 vehicles, according to the auto club of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI).
Nobuyuki Murahashi, president of Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand), said the company is working with dealers to directly contact customers about whether they still want to exercise their rights under the scheme.
Under conditions imposed by the Excise Department, buyers have to show a written notification to scrap their rights and let dealers sell the cars to other customers.
Tri Petch Isuzu Sales, the distributor of Isuzu pick-up trucks, said Isuzu itself managed to clear back orders incurred under the first-time car buyer scheme in the middle of the year.