Sichan Song, managing director of Mercedes-Benz Leasing (Thailand) Co Ltd, said: “We achieved the growth due to our ability to provide one-stop financial service solutions.”

He said the company offers a comprehensive range of customised financial service options, such as promotional campaigns with lower down payments and 0-per-cent interest monthly instalments for selected models.

“We have also strengthened our digital outreach to customers through online marketing campaigns, as well as co-promotions in partnership with Mercedes-Benz Thailand.

“The total business performance of Mercedes-Benz Leasing Thailand in 2018 showed growth in almost all segments, including Mercedes-Benz passenger cars, trucks, buses and vans,” he added.

Last year Mercedes-Benz sold more than 15,000 vehicles in Thailand.

Enhancements include the ability to activate the auto lift gate by foot – useful for both urban loads and outdoor activities and when travelling with lots of equipment and luggage. This update also brings a new A-IVI audio entertainment system.

Exterior highlights for all models include new colours, roof rails and a panoramic sunroof.

Intelligent features include Intelligent Cruise Control, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Forward Collision Warning, Intelligent Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Warning, Lane Departure Warning and Moving Objection Detection. All grades also feature an Around View Monitor, a 360-degree aerial view using four cameras around the car.

Nissan said an automotive market researcher, JATO, listed the X-Trail as the world’s best-selling SUV. It sold over 810,000 vehicles in 2017, up 6.5 per cent over the previous year, reportedly making it the fourth most popular vehicle globally for the year.

This is the 18th consecutive year that the German brand has finished the year in the top position, it said.

Globally, it also achieved record sales for the eighth straight year with 2.31 million vehicles sold in 2018.

Roland Folger, Mercedes-Benz Thailand, said: “Asia-Pacific was noted as a region with the highest annual sales as 943,473 Mercedes-Benz cars were delivered solely in this region. Regional growth of 7.8 per cent was highlighted as a growth figure higher than the year before.

“Furthermore, Mercedes-Benz significantly delivered more cars to consumers in Japan, India, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam than previous years.

“For Thailand, in particular, our sales record and annual growth hit a new high with 15,785 vehicles delivered and 9 per cent growth respectively. We, therefore, remain Thailand’s top player in the luxury auto market for 18 continuous years.”

He said the company plans to introduce over 20 new models in Thailand this year under all its brands – Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes-Maybach and EQ. With four new dealerships being appointed this year, the Thai network will be expanded to 36 within the end of 2019.

More models are also being picked for Thai assembly, with the latest two being the CLS53 4MATIC+ priced at Bt5.35 million and the E53 4MATIC+ coupe set at Bt6.99 million.

It recently launched the second-generation Ertiga subcompact MPV priced from Bt655,000 to Bt695,000, and plans to sell over 2,500 of the seven-seater annually. Last year Suzuki sold a total of 28,500 vehicles in the kingdom, achieving growth of 14 per cent compared to 2017. It sold 3.3 million vehicles worldwide last year, it said.

Wallop Treererkngam, Thai sales boss, said: “Suzuki would like to create a new phenomenon with the new Suzuki Ertiga as we would like to expand our consumer base to attract a wider consumer group. These consumers are building their families while continue maintaining their quality time with their friends.

“They also tend to look for vehicles with cutting-edge design and advanced functions.”

In 2019, the focus will also be on an expansion of its online service channels and development of a digital platform for service capability with respect to financing approval and after-sales assistance. KLeasing will work with its business partners and car dealers nationwide with the aim of extending more than Bt110 billion in new loans.

Sasawat Virapriya, KLeasing chairman, said KLeasing’s operating results in 2018 showed total loans of Bt105.6 billion, rising 24.4 per cent from 2017, consisting of auto hire purchase, leasing and car registration loans of Bt43.5 billion, and floorplan loans of Bt62.1 billion.

On the domestic car market, KResearch expects between 980,000-1,010,000 vehicles will be sold this year, shrinking by 2-5 per cent when compared to 2018, adjusted toward normalcy after a rapid surge in the previous year.

Eco-cars are seen to have bright prospects. The March general election and expanding public investment should also contribute to a growing pickup market in Thailand, the bank said.

Sasawat said: “KLeasing will continue to penetrate the auto financing market in 2019 by focusing on digital innovations for all types of auto loans and using KBank’s strengths in service networks and customer base to expand our online and offline businesses.

“Such attempts are aimed at offering auto loan products that meet the lifestyle needs of our customers, who use digital technologies in their daily life. KLeasing will also improve various platforms to offer more convenience for our clients and provide auto financing products and services to meet their needs by taking into account their ability in making instalment payments, our credit approval and after-sales service.”

Amano, 58, began working for Suzuki in 1983 in the international marketing sector, during which he was responsible in overseeing the American, European, Oceania and Latin American markets.

Amano’s biggest responsibility will be to help add value to the Suzuki dealer network in Thailand, as well as expand the market base for compact cars.

His predecessor, Yoji Murosaka will travel back to Japan and take up the position of department general manager, Spare Parts and Accessories Administration Department at Suzuki Corporation Japan.

The Nissan Nat Autocar Ban Chan showroom-service centre is in Udon Thani.

Nissan claims it is also first Nissan Electric Vehicle (EV) dealership in the Northeast authorised to sell the Nissan Leaf – the world’s best-selling mass-market full Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV).

The Nissan Retail Concept aims to improve all aspects of the customer experience, including facility design, service processes and the digital environment.

More than 400 dealerships in 30 countries have already made the change.

Nissan aims to implement NRC at more than 9,000 dealerships in 170 countries by the end of fiscal 2022.

Nat Autocar’s showroom in Udon Thani at the Samprao intersection is capable of servicing more than 1,200 vehicles a month.

It also has a premium paint and body shop that can take up to 400 vehicles per month.

Currently it has a showroom display area for eight vehicles and is servicing 600 vehicles per month. Nissan now operates 182 outlets across Thailand.

In comparison, the automotive market grew 19.5 per cent with a total industry volume (TIV) of 1,041,739 units.

The automaker’s market share also grew to 8.1 per cent, Morikazu Chokki, Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand)’s president and CEO, said in a press conference.

He explained that Mitsubishi’s outstanding performance in Thailand came from an improvement in hardware, including newly designed showrooms.

“Soft skills, such as dealer service and operations, have also been successfully implemented,” he said.

On export, Mitsubishi grew 4.2 per cent year-on-year with combined built-up (BU) and knocked-down (KD) volumes totalling 347,000 units, surpassing earlier projections. At supporting sister plants in Indonesia, Philippines, Russia and Brazil, BU exports were steady and further propped up by a massive 37-per cent growth in KD volume.

In terms of production, Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand) registered a significant 11.2 per cent growth, with 444,000 vehicles leaving the assembly lines at Laem Chabang Port.

This year, the Japanese automaker plans to continue focusing on growing market share, bolstered by strong models like the Triton, Xpander and models with minor changes.