The BMW Certified Body and Paint Centre at Barcelona Motor Bang Khae is equipped with 22 mechanical bays including four heavy-duty bays (body repairs), 11 light-duty bays, three assembly bays, four polishing bays, and three spray booths using the water-based BMW ColorSystem paint.

With more than 20 years in the business, Barcelona Motor is now operating 3 BMW showrooms and one-stop service centers in Vibhavadi Rangsit, Bang Khae, and Chiang Mai, as well as 3 BMW Studios in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Mahachai, Samut Sakhon. The latest facility in Bangkok offers extensive services to cater to every customer’s needs, ranging from fast and convenient services from certified mechanics, repair stations that can support up to 300 vehicles per month, reliable services using original BMW Parts, to a slide-on tow service in emergencies and a courtesy car while waiting for repairs to be completed.

Comprising  five legs to be held in Chiang Mai (May 19-20), Buri Ram (June 29-July 1 and October 26-28), Chon Buri (July 13-15) and Phuket (September 22-23), the event will feature motor racing as well as various entertainments aimed at attracting big crowds, including potential Toyota customers.

Visitors to the event will be greeted by the Live Alive Cafe featuring a collection of Toyota technologies, and have the chance to walk around the track and into the pit, allowing them to closely check out racing cars.

The racing events include one-make races for the Hilux Revo, Corolla Altis and Vios (with male and female categories).

At the end of the year, the top two drivers in the standings of the Corolla Altis event will be sponsored to participate in the Netz Cup at the Fuji Speedway in Japan, which is a Toyota Vitz one-make race.

There are currently 12 entries for the Revo, 14 for the Altis, 24 for the Vios and 13 for the Vios Lady, according to organisers TRD Thailand.

Michinobu Sugata, president of Toyota Motor Thailand Co Ltd, said Japanese car company has been involved in Thai motorsports since 1986.

Throughout 31 years, Toyota has taken an active part in advancing Thai motorsports in Thailand, and has been deeply committed to supporting this country’s motorsports in an attempt to develop the racers’ skills along with the automotive industry.

“This year, Toyota heralds a new era in motorsport activities in Thailand with the aim to deliver more excitement – both in the form of a professional racing series that participants are able to [watch] exceptional performances by Toyota vehicles, and [through] an array of enjoyable activities that allow higher engagement in our motorsports.”

This year Toyota is highlighting its C-HR model and will feature two activities at the Toyota Motorsports 2018 events. They include the Live Alive C-HR Show and C-HR Test Drive Run on Track, the latter allowing Toyota customers to experience riding in the circuits where the races are held.

Other attractions include the Hilux Revo Drift Show and the Toyota Team Thailand Show, with top drivers performing colourful stunts.

“Due to the tremendous success of the Toyota Motorsports project in Thailand, Toyota distributors in neighbouring Asian countries have started to duplicate our activities,” Sugata said. “For example, Toyota Motor Philippines initiated its Vios Cup One Make Race in 2014. On top of that, Malaysia staged a One Make Race just last year in the name of the Vios Challenge.”

Sugata said that in the near future, hybrid vehicles (such as the C-HR Hybrid) could make their entry into the Toyota Motorsport races.

Another important event for Toyota Thailand is Germany’s annual Nurburgring 24-hour race, to which it is sending a team of two Corolla Altis ESport cars to compete for the fifth consecutive year.

The firm said GM Grandmasters rewards GM’s “best of the best” dealers in Southeast Asia for their excellence in serving Chevrolet customers across sales, services and after-sales.

Participants included the highest-performing dealers from Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

Regional president Ian Nicholls said: “Our dealer partners are critical to our success. Thanks to their outstanding contributions and hard work, we grew our sales in Southeast Asia by 16 per cent in 2017 compared to 2016. In Thailand, our retail sales grew by 26 per cent, driven by outstanding Colorado pickup truck growth.”

During the dealers had the opportunity to test drive the Chevrolet Trailblazer and Silverado through the deserts of Dubai.

Ford had announced Tuesday the fire had halted production of its best-selling F-150 light duty truck across three factories, idling some 7,600 workers.

The blaze occurred at the Meridian Magnesium Die Casting factory in western Michigan last week.

Ford said it was working with its supply base to offset the impact, adding that it did not expect its yearly-profit forecast to be affected.

“The automotive industry is heavily connected through the supply base,” said Charlie Chesbrough, chief economist for Cox Automotive.

“A major disruption could not come at a worse time for Ford — 70,000 sales each month are at stake,” he said.

Fiat-Chrysler meanwhile said production of its Pacifica model at an assembly plant in Windsor, Canada had been impacted as a result of the fire at Meridian but did not indicate any workers were being idled.

GM has temporarily halted production of its full-size vans at an assembly plant in Missouri, spokeswoman Kimberly Carpenter said in an email.

The news, announced on a telephone conference, will temporarily close an assembly plant near Dearborn, Michigan. The plant employs around 4,000 workers who will be on mandatory layoff.

Earlier this week, the US automaker said another 3,600 workers at its F-150 facility in Kansas City, Missouri were being laid off.

Ford says it is short on some important parts to manufacture the popular vehicle, after the explosion a week ago at its supplier Meridian Lightweight Technologies, whose main shareholder since 2013 is the Chinese group Wanfeng Auto Holdings.

Dealers, however, still have inventory.

The F-150 is the best-selling vehicle in the United States, and the engine of Ford’s profits.

Daimler said the introduction of the FJ 2528C demonstrates its commitment to serve and meet the demands of the market, while complementing its current OneStopSolutions.

“This new fuel-efficient and safe truck is the improved successor of our FN62 Dump Truck and shows our clear leadership in the Thai construction sector.

“The truck is capable of very heavy construction work with 280 horsepower and a carrying capacity of 13 tons. This great quality, high endurance truck, is one of the necessities of any construction business, and can help reduce operational and maintenance costs thus boosting potential profits,” said Sascha Ricanek, CEO of DCVT.

He said Fuso construction trucks are popular among leading Thai and international companies in the logistics and construction sectors, with an array of safety features including ABS braking.

Organisers are expecting more than 250,000 visitors during the 5-day event at halls 105-106, with 2,300 new cars and 1,300 used cars up for sale.

This is the seventh year the event has been held.

Fifteen new car and motorcycle retailers and 16 used car dealers will be featuring their vehicles under the slogan “Pick the one you like, drive the one that’s right”.

Chairman of the organising committee, Pattanadesh Asasappakij, said Thailand’s economy has shown continuous improvements this year.

“From the forecast of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, the Thai economy will grow from 4.2 to 4.6 per cent this year, and similarly the automobile market is also experiencing growth,” he said.

“Auto companies have the potential to stimulate the market with new products and promotions, and generate sales growth. At the same time, consumers still consider automobiles an important part of life, so the highly attractive campaigns and promotions offered at the Fast Auto Show will definitely help boost sales for participating companies.”

Apart from the vehicles on sale, buyers can enjoy special promotions, both from the auto companies as well as Krungsri Bank which is offering offering 5 per cent interest rate and an 84-month installment car loan plan, apart from gifts and fuel vouchers.

Pattanadesh said the event is intended to serve as a stage for buyers and sellers to meet, whether for new or old vehicles.

“No matter if it’s a new car or old car, buy or sell, you can came to the show.

“There are many [vendors] who will help you achieve your goal in a short time with all sides satisfied.

“There are a large number of sales promotions throughout the event whether from the exhibitors or finance companies,” he said. “We are confident that the Fast Auto Show will benefit the country’s auto industry during the midyear period and also help stimulate Thailand’s economy.”

Chanchai Trakarnudomsuk, president of Mazda Sales (Thailand), on Monday said that with the range’s increasing popularity in the Thai automobile market thanks to its “emotional” design, attention to detail and large number of innovative technologies offering outstanding performance and efficiency, Mazda products had caught the limelight.

As a result, customers are helping to spread the word about their exceptional experience with Mazda, he added.