Bangkok International Motor Show Roars Off

[webfact]

Bangkok International Motor Show Roars Off

The organizer of the Bangkok International Motor Show 2011 is confident that disasters in Japan and rising oil prices will not have an effect on the confidence of car buyers.

During the opening of the 32nd Bangkok International Motor Show 2011, chief organizer Prajin Imlamnao expressed confidence that the exhibition will be able to sell more than 28,000 cars. He hopes the event will generate up to 30 billion baht.

Prajin said the exhibition for this year has moved from the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Center, or BITEC, to Impact Challenger Hall to facilitate increased capacity.

Prajin expressed confidence that the disasters in Japan and increased oil prices will not effect the number of cars sold during the event, as there are still cars available in stock for the next three to four months.

Meanwhile, he believes that Japan's economy will recover within the next six to 12 months.

As for the increased oil prices, Prajin viewed that Thai car owners are still able to handle the increase.

He said the release of new eco-cars should be a good alternative for car buyers.

The Senior Vice President for marketing and sales of Nissan Motors, Praphat Choeychom said that the company aims to sell at least 2,500 cars at the motor show.

He said the company will focus on pushing eco-cars and will introduce a new innovation of 100-percent electrically-powered cars.

Praphat said most of Nissan car parts are made in Thailand, therefore, the catastrophe in Japan is of little concern.

The Vice President for Sales of Isuzu, Panadda Jennavasin, expressed confidence on the sales target as the situation in Japan will only have a short-term impact on Thailand.

Moreover, the government's diesel price subsidy to keep the pump price at 30 baht per liter will help reduce the burden and create confidence for car buyers.

The Bangkok International Motor Show 2011 begins tomorrow and will end on April 5 at the Impact Challenger Hall, Muang Thong Thani.

The highlights of the exhibition include the launch of the new Honda Brio, which is the company's first eco-car. Mitsubishi will introduce their Global Small eco- car and the I Miev electric car.

Moreover, Toyota will also introduce its electric prototype car while Nissan will introduce its electric car called Leaf.

-- Tan Network 2011-03-25

[dunkin2012]

Will come back when you have some miss motor show 2011 pix. Don't need a real car for now....

[webfact]

Bangkok Motorshow 2011 -- The first 250 pictures of this years Motorshow at Impact Arena

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[webfact]

Carmakers hopeful Motor Show will drive more sales success

By Kingsley Wijayasinha

The Nation

After a glorious year for the automobile industry with record sales in 2010, the industry is hoping for another boost from the Bangkok International Motor Show, with as much as Bt40 billion expected to change hands during the 12-day event.

In photo: A dancer performs in front of Toyota's electric car, FTEV II, a second-generation

electric concept that is emissionfree and environmentally friendly.

This year the show has been moved from Bitec Bang Na to the Challenger Hall, Impact Muang Thong Thani, and runs from today to April 5. The Thailand International Motor Expo, the country's other major auto-exhibition event, is held at the same venue during the year-end period.

During last year's Bangkok Motor Show, 28,000 orders for new vehicles were placed, and organisers expect more this year.

"Although we are more concerned with the technology and the interest in new models than in sales, I am sure that more orders will be placed for new automobiles than last year," said Dr Prachin Eamlumnow, chairman of the organising committee.

As much as Bt40 billion could be spent this year, considering the recovery in the automobile and finance sectors, he said.

About 40 automobile and motorcycle brands are taking part at this year's Bangkok Motor Show, which is included in the official OICA (Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles, or International Organisation of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers) Calendar of Motor Shows. It is considered the second-largest automotive exhibition event in the region, after the Tokyo Motor Show.

The Honda Brio, which made its global premiere in Bangkok last week, is expected to be the best-selling model at the show. With prices starting at Bt399,000, the Brio, the second car after the Nissan March to be produced under the Thai eco-car project, is targeted at young buyers and small families looking for a small and fuel-efficient car. Honda says it plans to sell 40,000 units of the Brio during the first year.

Mazda is also launching a new product, the redesigned Mazda3. Production of the new model has been relocated from the Philippines to the Ford-Mazda AutoAlliance Thailand (AAT) plant in Rayong, and the company hopes that it will complement the Mazda2 in helping Mazda achieve record sales once again and a 5-per-cent market share this year.

Ford, meanwhile, is showing its all-new Ranger 1-tonne pickup truck, which it intends to assemble at the AAT plant and sell during the last quarter of this year.

Bloomberg quoted Joe Hinrichs, chief of Ford's Asian operations, as saying in Bangkok: "Southeast Asia is a very important market for us, with a large population and rising income. We see the Asean market growing substantially over the next decade."

Over the next five years, Ford will launch eight new models in Southeast Asia to boost market share from 3 per cent now.

Chevrolet is also focusing on its new truck, the Colorado. In its world premiere, the new Colorado is being displayed at the show, though the official launch will take place later this year.

The highlight at Nissan's booth is the Leaf plug-in electric car, which many might mistake for a concept. In fact, the Leaf is sold in many countries, and has just been voted European Car of the Year.

While Honda enjoys brisk sales of the Brio, Mitsubishi will also be testing the market with its Concept Global Small, the eco-car concept that it plans to produce in Thailand next March. As many as 150,000 units will be built during the first year and annual capacity can be boosted to 200,000 units in the future.

A 100-per-cent-electric version of the Global Small is also planned for production in 2013. Mitsubishi is also displaying its i-MiEV electric car alongside the Global Small.

Toyota, the largest auto company in Thailand, does not have a new model but is showing off two concept vehicles, the FT-EV II and FT-86.

Lexus, the luxury division of Toyota, is highlighting the CT200h, which is the world's first hybrid-powered luxury hatchback, with prices starting at Bt2.19 million.

Mercedes-Benz, the most popular luxury brand in the Kingdom, has launched five new models, including the new SLK, CL and CLS. Meanwhile its rival BMW is banking on the hopes that the X1 subcompact crossover, which is assembled in Thailand and carries a starting price of Bt2.149 million, will dramatically help expand its customer base in Thailand.

Malaysian auto-maker Proton, which is highly popular in the budget-car market, is another company that is showing a concept vehicle - the Lekir, which is based on the Lotus Europa.

A large number of auto buyers are expected to visit the show during the next 12 days to place orders for new vehicles, since they can easily compare various makes and models by visiting just one venue.

Every brand is offering sales promotions ranging from low interest rates and down payments to free maintenance, first-class insurance and emergency service, as well as other gifts - for example, complimentary iPads or 1-carat diamonds from Volvo.

-- The Nation 2011-03-25

[nocturn]

These guys seem to have some quality images coming. i met the photographer last year and he said he plans to get his digital stuff up as quickly as he can.

http://www.bangkokmotorshowgirls.com

i cant get enough of the subaru chick from last year. The black and white galleries are pretty cool too.

[patjem]

Praphat said most of Nissan car parts are made in Thailand, therefore, the catastrophe in Japan is of little concern.

True in one aspect, however the raw steel for Japanese OEM parts is all JIS spec., imported from Japan, and distributed through their trading arm/ coil centres. Also many 2nd and 3rd tier suppliers rely on small parts such as electrical connectors etc. that are made in Japan.

[Bagwan]

I seems that the dollies on view are the main item of interest. And why not? All the manufacturers are foreign, as is all the design work and the machine tools and robots employed in the manufacture. And where do the profits go? Thailand's contribution is to provide pairs of hands on the assembly line - after they have been trained that is.

[Flatouthruthefog]

<br />Will come back when you have some miss motor show 2011 pix.   Don't need a real car for now....<br />

<br /><br /><br />

And I'll come back when (or IF) some real cars are shown.

Don't need an electric milk float for now.....

[phillies]

farang with this in isaan

[Scottish Thailander]

farang with this in isaan

:rolleyes:

Does it come with (compulsory) umbrellas?

.

Edited March 26, 2011 by Scottish Thailander

[nocturn]

and as my friend promised he got his day 1 pictures up. they look great. I love the bentley gir. some of the motorcycle girls aren't too shabby either.

http://www.bangkokmotorshowgirls.com/2011-color-day-1/

[bangon04]

"The organizer of the Bangkok International Motor Show 2011 is confident that disasters in Japan and rising oil prices will not have an effect on the confidence of car buyers."

Well nothing seems to affect the confidence of car buyers in Thailand. Do they even know about the import taxes for overseas models? Do they care? Obviously not.

"

[nocturn]

Im pretty certain they care about the import taxes for overseas models, it is just that they have no choice. Not everyone wants a fortuner. i know i certainly dont.

[Rimmer]

One smart alec post in very bad taste removed from view

[nocturn]

One smart alec post in very bad taste removed from view

the show seems to be going strong. some black and white photos here

http://www.bangkokmotorshowgirls.com/black-and-white-2011/

they have quite a big bike section this year, and even some waverunners at the yamaha stand.