Thailand Car Industry Sees Big Potential In Malaysia TEAMCAR - Thai motor vehicle and parts manufacturers have been urged to increase their market share in Malaysia due to high passenger car demand in the country and to take advantage of low tariffs under the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Free Trade Area (Afta) agreement.

Samart Deebhijarn, director of Thai Auto-Parts Manufacturers Association, said a Frost & Sullivan survey showed that there were 230 cars for every 1,000 people in Malaysia.

"This is a very high figure compared to other markets. Thai manufacturers should aggressively increase their exports there because the tax is only five per cent under Afta," he said at a seminar on "Opportunities for Thai Auto-Parts Exporters in China and Malaysia" here recently.

Samart said Thailand had better advantage in the motor vehicle sector due to better research and development and use of higher technology.

He said Malaysia had only between 50 and 400 motor vehicle and parts manufacturers compared with Thailand's 700 to 1,000 manufacturers.

"Our 40-year-old motor vehicle sector has now become one of the country's biggest export earners, with the government aggressively promoting it as the 'Detroit of Asia'. (BERNAMA)  ¶ 3:28 PM