Cars Sales in Vietnam Rebound

The Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association (VAMA) has announced that the combined sales volume of its 15 company members and Honda in August rose 13 per cent on-month and 21 per cent on-year to 3,782 units.

 

The bounce back of the local auto market after continuous falls so far this year (except for May and June) was mainly contributed by the commercial vehicle segment with 62 per cent increase against August of 2005 to 1,735, VAMA said in its monthly statement.

 

The sales volume in the January-August period is recovering but still much lower than the same period of 2005 by 8 per cent with 23,022 units, it said. The eight-month sales fall is principally attributed to 54 per cent sales drop in passenger car segment to 3,606 units.

 

According to a VAMA member, frenzied sales promotions by carmakers also led to the month’s sales recovery.

 

Mercedes-Benz Vietnam (MBV) give attractive offerings like LCD TVs, free maintenance for first 60,000km, one-year car polishing and Europe trips to its Elegance 280 buyers.

 

Toyota, Ford and GM Daewoo also offered seductive gifts to its buyers as well as discounts to its customers.

 

Japanese-led Toyota Vietnam remains the largest carmaker with sales of 1,385 cars in August, totaling 8,362 units in eight months, followed by Vietnamese-invested Truong Hai Auto with 470 units in August and 3,279 units in eight months, Ford Vietnam with 313 units in August and 2,390 units in eight months. 

 

Vindaco, which makes Daihatsu cars, enjoyed the highest on-year growth in August and January-August of 124 per cent to 23 per cent to 83 and 331 units, respectively.

 

Meanwhile Vidamco, a GM-Daewoo branch, suffered the deepest fall of 55 per cent and 65 per cent in August and January-August to 151 and 1,038 units, respectively.

* The following table details car sales, market shares and the growth of the 15 VAMA carmakers and Honda in Vietnam in August and in the January and August period.

 

No.	Maker	August 06			Jan-Aug 06
		Sales (units)	Share (%)	On-year growth (%)	Sales (units)	Share (%)	On-year growth (%)
1	Toyota	1,385	37	54	8,362	36.3	13
2	Truong Hai	470	12	92	3,297	14.3	15
3	VinaStar	347	9	-3	1,522	6.6	-40
4	Ford	315	8	-38	2,390	10.4	-18
5	Vinaxuki	251	7	n/a	1,412	6.1	n/a
6	Isuzu	246	7	34	1,465	6.4	1
7	Vidamco	151	4	-55	1,038	4.5	-65
8	Visuco	146	4	-42	1,067	4.6	-53
9	Mercedes	107	3	-34	638	2.8	-35
10	Vinacoal	91	n/a	n/a	91	0.4
11	Vindaco	83	2	124	331	1.4	23
12	VMC	73	2	35	385	1.7	-10
13	Hino	68	2	119	393	1.7	2
14	SAMCO	61	2	74	247	1.1	-20
15	Mekong	52	1	18	357	1.6	21
16	Honda	27	1	n/a	27	n/a
	Total	3,782	100	21	23,022	100	-8

 

Note: Truong Hai Auto makes Chinese-originated Thaco-trademarked trucks, Vinastar (Mitsubishi), Vinaxuki (Chinese Jinbei cars), Vidamco (Daewoo), Visuco (Suzuki), VMC (Mazda, BMW), Vindaco (Daihatsu) and Mekong Auto (Fiat).

(Source: VAMA Release)