Thailand March 2016: Isuzu D-Max increases gap over Toyota Hilux

Another victorious month for the Isuzu D-Max

* See the Top 32 All-brands and Top 70 models by clicking on the title *

Yet another month of decline for new car sales in Thailand, albeit limited to -2% in March at 72.646 registrations, pulling the First Quarter total down a depressing 8% to 181.560 units. Toyota is in trouble again at -23% to 21.101 sales and 29% share whereas immediate followers Isuzu (+2%) and Honda (+8%) both go against the grain to post very satisfying year-on-year gains, resulting in improved market shares of 18.2% and 15.6% respectively. The Yaris is down 35%, the Corolla down 38%, the Vios still hasn’t restarted production which has deprived the Japanese manufacturer of roughly 8 to 10.000 sales so far this year, and last but not least: the new generation Hilux continues to be surprisingly weak, which is the big event of the year so far in Thailand. At -11% to 10.525 units, it lags in 2nd place overall for the 4th consecutive month, leaving the top spot honours to the Isuzu D-Max at 11.647 (+10%). Year-to-date, the D-Max increases the gap with the Hilux to over 6.000 units at 32.309 and 17.8% share (+8%) vs. 26.299 and 14.5% (-20%). As the months go by it will become more and more difficult for the Hilux to reclaim an annual lead that had been his for the past 7 consecutive years…

The new generation Honda Civic already teases its archenemy the Toyota Corolla in March.

The only piece of good news for Toyota comes from the Fortuner: the new generation has been an incredible success and pushes the model up to #3 both in March (+278%) and year-to-date (+203%). Honda on the other hand is going from success to success: the City (+5%) benefits from the Vios absence, the all-new BR-V improves further to 1.885 sales (#11) for its 2nd full month in market and should break into the Top 10 next month and the new generation Civic is back with a vengeance, landing directly at #14 with 1.547 sales, just below the Corolla whereas the Civic nameplate ranked #25 over the FY2015 (Corolla at #11).

The MG GS has landed in Thailand. 

Meanwhile a couple of other Japanese carmakers are having the time of their life: Mitsubishi is up is 54% on the back of stunning Pajero Sport sales (#6 and 2.938 in March, up 386%) and Mazda is up 50% thanks to the 2 doubling its sales year-on-year (+99%) with the arrival of the new gen sedan and the CX-3 at #22 year-to-date. Other great performers include Ford (+32%), Mercedes (+48%), Lexus (+105%) and Kia (+36%) while now-Chinese manufacturer MG has sold over 1.600 units in three months in Thailand, simply its best performance outside China (it sold 992 in the UK during the same period). The MG 3 is within the 2016 Top 30 (#29), the MG 5 within the Top 40 (#39) and the MG 6 is #56 while the MG GS SUV has just arrived at #54 with 38 units sold for now.

Previous month: Thailand February 2016: Isuzu D-Max on its way to outsell the Hilux annually for the first time since 2007

One year ago: Thailand March 2015: Honda HR-V and Toyota Camry shoot up

Full March 2016 Top 32 All-brands and Top 70 models below.