The show, held in Challenger Hall 2 at Impact Muangthong Thani, is considered an extension of the Tokyo Auto Salon, one of the world’s largest custom car shows. Top exhibits from the Tokyo event are brought over to the Bangkok event, along with local custom cars, tuning parts and other accessories.

A larger field of automobile companies is also taking part in this year’s event, which has over 150 booths and lasts until July 8, said organiser Wiluck Lohthong, president of Cournot and Nash Co Ltd, part of Siam Sport Group.

“In order to fully respond to the consumers this year, the format of the BIAS has been expanded, and now covers sales of new cars and motorcycles, with a larger number of companies taking part including automobile, motorcycle, custom car, accessories and tuning parts,” he said. “There are more than 150 booths this year, with a large number of highlight exhibits from this year’s Tokyo Auto Salon being closely shown to visitors.”

Major auto brands like Toyota, Honda and Isuzu have set up booths at the show and are offering attractive sales promotions. Honda, in particular, is highlighting its minor-change HR-V that comes with Modulo accessories. Other auto companies present are Mazda, Nissan, Suzuki, BMW and MINI (Millennium Group), Kia and Mercedes-Benz (Metro Auto Haus) – all offering aggressive sales campaigns to woo customers.

Motorcycles brands include Yamaha, Royal Enfield, Benelli, Suzuki, and MF Motorrad.

However, for a great many of the visitors, the highlight of the show isn’t the range of new cars, but the customised models on display. Famous tuning houses from Japan and around the world, including Thailand, are taking part, such as Oak Club, Liberty Walk, PP Superwheels, Forever Shop, ECU Shop, Monza Shop, BRC Clutch, BRD, PPK Racing, Aek Garage, WORK, Cusco and HC Group. Many accessories manufacturers from China, Japan and elsewhere are also taking part with attractive sales promotions.

“With the large variety of events taking place, whether it’s the imported custom cars from Japan or the special sales promotions offered by various auto and motorcycle companies, including accessories and tuning companies, plus the entertainment, the BIAS 2018 is the place to be,” Wiluck said.

“We give customers not only a great experience but also the best deals as we are, in fact, the largest custom car and accessories show in Asean.”

Meanwhile, organisers of the FAST Auto Show Thailand 2018, which was held from June 27 to July 1 at BITEC, said more than Bt3.1 billion was spent at the show, up 10 per cent from last year.

Organiser Pattanadesh Asasappakij said 2,356 orders were placed for new vehicles and 1,472 orders for used cars.

“Attendance grew by 40 per cent, resulting in 35 per cent growth for new car sales and 40 per cent per cent for used cars,” he said.

Although hybrid models are the top variants in the Toyota C-HR line-up, there are also 1.8-litre petrol versions available at lower prices and with less equipment.

And that is actually a good decision by Toyota, because after driving the 1.8 Mid model for a while, I liked it better than the hybrid.

Priced at Bt1.039 million, it lacks some of the premium features offered in the top hybrid model, such as blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning and pre-collision systems, as well as navigation and T-Connect telematics.

Which was fine for me as the 1.8 Mid still comes with a healthy level of features that you’d expect in a modern automobile. They include smart entry, auto brake hold, sport and eco engine mode, seven airbags, cruise control, DVD player with seven-inch touchscreen, and a 4.2-inch colour TFT screen on the dash.

The C-HR 1.8 Mid is powered by a punchy 2ZR-FBE 1,798cc gasoline engine (with the same displacement as the hybrid’s 2ZR-FXE Atkinson-cycle engine) pumping out a good 140 horsepower and 175Nm of torque. Without any electric motor assistance, the engine, mated to a CVT (continuously variable transmission), still gives the C-HR punchy acceleration that harmonises with its highly dynamic character.

Built on Toyota’s TNGA platform, the C-HR has a low centre of gravity, high body rigidity and rear double-wishbone suspension. The steering is surprisingly responsive too, adding to the driving enjoyment from the C-HR.

Weighing in at 70 kilograms less than the hybrid, the C-HR 1.8 Mid goes through the corners with less resistance, giving the driver even more fun.

While all this is happening, the cabin is well protected from wind and engine noise. In fact at idle speed the engine purrs smoothly like in a luxury car.

The interior is as modern as the exterior, and very stylish too, but the quality of the materials isn’t as impressive as the competition, such as the Honda HR-V and Mazda CX-3. Even with all the impressive upgrades, this is something that reminds you that the C-HR is in fact still a Toyota, and luxury isn’t the name of the game here.

There’s adequate space for the front occupants and the stylish seats are comfortable as well, but as you move back there seems to be less space due to structural design. The small rear windows are stylish and make the C-HR look cool, but aren’t good for avoiding claustrophobia, and there’s less luggage space than the segment leader.

The powered windows are all anti-pinch, but Toyota’s marketing guys should have offered automatic windshield wipers with every variant across the range, including this one. The rear-view camera is nice, featuring guiding lines, and there is also a tire-pressure monitoring system, apart from the usual driver-assistance systems.

Finally, also in the C-HR plus column, is that is comes with a five-year/150,000km warranty, which is a great offer from distributor Toyota Motor Thailand.

While the hybrid version of the C-HR has yet to achieve plug-in status, it would achieve good fuel economy (24.4km/litre average) but not a long EV range as the Ni-Mh battery runs out quickly.

I’m not a big fan of hybrids anyway, so naturally I would strongly consider the C-HR 1.8 Mid for its lower pricing (Bt120,000 compared to the top hybrid variant) and better handling due to the lighter weight (no battery and electric motor).

It would also be beneficial for the customer if the additional equipment offered in the top hybrid model could be ordered for the gasoline variants as well. This would give customers more freedom in selecting the options that best suit their lifestyles.

Toyota C-HR 1.8 Mid specs

Engine: 4-cylinder DOHC 16-valve

Displacement: 1,798cc

Bore and stroke: 80.5×88.3mm

Compression ratio: 10.0:1

Max power: 140ps/6,000rpm

Max torque: 175Nm/4,000rpm

Transmission: Super CVT-I with 7-speed manual mode

Ratios: 2.480-0.396

Final drive ratio: 5.698

Average fuel economy: 15.3km/litre

City: 11.9km/litre

Highway: 18.5km/litre

Average CO2: 150g/km

Suspension (f/r): McPherson strut, stabiliser/double wishbone, stabiliser

Steering: electrically-powered rack-and-pinion

Turning circle: 10.4m

Brakes (f/r): vented disc/disc

Dimensions (mm)

Length: 4,360

Width: 1,795

Height: 1,565

Wheelbase: 2,640

Track (f/r): 1,550/1,570

Weight: 1,385kgs

Wheels: 17-in alloy

Tyres: 215/60R17

Fuel tank capacity: 50 litres

Price: Bt1.039 million

Distributor: Toyota Motor Thailand Co Ltd

Lucky draw rewards and giveaways worth over Bt1 million include gold necklaces, iPad Pros, Apple Watches and discounts for Mobil’s lubricants when changing Mobil engine oils and oil filters with B-Quik.

Customers can easily take part by adding the Line ID @B-quik1153 and registering for the privileges. The programme runs from today throughout July. For more information contact B-Quik on 1153.

Pajaree Meekangvan, Esso’s Thailand lubricants sales manager, said B-Quik has been a business partner with Esso and distributed Mobil-branded products since 2003, as well as operated 12 B-Quik stations at Esso sites.

“Not only have both companies been a strong business partnership, but Esso has also sponsored BQ Racing, the motorsport racing team owned by B-Quik, for seven years, to demonstrate the Mobil 1 lubricant’s ability to optimise engine efficiency and reliability on the race track,” she said.

Henk Kiks, CEO of B-Quik, said: “We are delighted that B-Quik and Esso are celebrating our 15-year relationship. Currently, we operate 146 branches of B-Quik across Thailand and plan to add at least five more branches in the second half of the year. Next month we will open a new station at Robinson Chon Buri.”

The new office, three kilometers away from the previous one, is located in the heart of the Bangna business district.

Honda describes the new head office design as “simple yet inspirational” with ample space and able to support various functions to enhance flexibility and accommodate the many work functions at the facility.

The work environment is designed to support and maximise the potential and productivity of its staff, said the release.

The facility will allow Honda to achieve its commitment to deliver the best products and services to its customers as well as to support sustainable growth and advanced mobility technologies development in the future, added the release.

All Honda executives and associates will be relocated to the new sales and service head office by July 2.

Visitors to the Fast Auto Show Thailand 2018 at BITEC Bangna can take a spin on the simulator at Nissan’s booth, EH106, on a first-come, first-served basis until July 1, the company announced.

The GT Racing Pod also provides an alternative route into mainstream motorsports: the Nissan GT Academy uses it to host competitions with gamers to select the best player, who then has a chance to be trained as a real-life professional racer with Nissan Motor Sport (NISMO).

“The opening of this facility is an important part in our offensive plan for 2018 by expanding our sales and after-sales services to regional areas,” said Charnchai Mahantakhun, managing director of Inchcape (Thailand).

“We have strong cooperation from Lifestyle Auto Co, Ltd, which has vast experience in the automobile business and also high expertise in the southern region car market,” he said.

This is the third Jaguar Land Rover showroom in Thailand and is located on Thepkrasattri Road in Phuket.

Southern Thailand has many Jaguar and Land Rover drivers, said Charnchai and a Phuket operation would allow them to be better serviced.

The 1,158-square metre Phuket studio is divided into a display zone for six vehicles and a customer zone serving English snacks and beverages.

The service centre has four service bays and will offer experienced mechanics trained by the authorised importer and distributor. The centre also features the latest diagnostics equipment and tools, with genuine parts from Jaguar Land Rover. There is also an online database system linking the facility to the main service centre at the head office.

The event kicked off yesterday at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Center (Bitec) and will run until July 1.

A total of 15 automobile companies are present with current models while 16 used car dealers are offering a range of previously-owned vehicles that come with special warranties and sales promotions.

Show organiser Pattanadesh Asasappakij said this is the 7th year of the event.

“Last year there were 252,216 visitors to the show with a total of 3,497 vehicles sold (2,256 new and 1,241 used) worth approximately Bt2.85 billion,” he said, adding that the organisers expect a 3-per cent growth in sales this year.

“We expect 270,000 people attending the show this year with no less than 3,600 vehicles being sold, comprising of 2,300 new and 1,300 used vehicles,” Pattanadesh said.

He said used cars offered at the show must pass several important requirements. The vehicles must not be involved with a serious accident and has not undergone modifications.

Pornthep Thirasuntrakul, Senior Marketing Director for Auto Financing, Bank of Ayudhya, which is the main sponsor of the show, said, “The automobile market is growing continuously this year due to favorable economic factors, introduction of new models and the large number of used cars flowing into the market. The auto financing market is also enjoying growth, projected at 7 per cent in 2018. Krungsri Auto believes that the FAST Auto Show Thailand 2018 will be another boost for the automobile and auto financing market.”

Chalatchai Paphatphong, vice chairman of the Organising Committee for New Cars, said, “For new vehicles, we have a total of 15 companies including MG, Hyundai, Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Suzuki, Isuzu, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Subaru and AAS Group, which features Porsche, Bentley, Ducati and Harley-Davidson. This reflects the confidence auto companies have in the automobile market, which is enjoying continuous growth. Meanwhile, auto companies have prepared many sales campaigns that will surely help with the purchase decision of consumers visiting the show.”

Asadavuth Asasappakij, vice chairman of the Organising Committee for Used Cars, said, “For used cars, apart from the 100-per cent buy-back guarantee, many dealers are exhibiting more luxury cars apart from the popular models in the market. This is because of last year’s robust sales of luxury vehicles. There were not enough cars for sale at the show. This year, there is also a large number of promotions and warranty to give customers added confidence, and I am sure sales of used vehicles will increase.”

Used car dealers present at the show include Visarn Autocar, DDS Car Center, Yo Rachada, 54 Niwat Car, The One Srinakarin, CarDeeSureOk, Amorn Warranty by Benz Amorn Rachada, , Khun X Home Cars by Auto Master, 999 Suwit Home Cars Took Lae Dee, Best Service, Keng Rama 9 and J. Motor Trade, Muangchon Used Car, RoT Sethi, NBP&Unique Auto Car, and A.T. Car Sale.

“It is not the right time for newcomers to enter the Myanmar market, as many players here are struggling to survive. A lot of used-car showrooms may shut down in the near future because they cannot make ends meet,” he says.

The majority of car sales centres in Myanmar are owned by locals, though 100 per cent foreign investment is allowed in the auto industry. Among the total of over 100 sales centres in Yangon, more than 90 per cent are owned by Myanmar nationals.

On average, less than 100,000 passenger cars and 30,000 commercial vehicles are usually sold in Myanmar every year. Farmer Auto usually sells out over 2,000 cars yearly. Vehicles with a price range of between 10 to 20 million kyats (Bt240,000 to Bt480,000) are the best sellers in Myanmar, according to the statistics. Soe Tun also seems worried that the nature of the industry itself, including a ban on Yangon licences, unstable car import policies and tax regulations, along with increasing office and land rental fees and limited resources may deter the growth of Myanmar’s auto industry.

“Currently, the auto market in Myanmar is inactive for two main reasons. First, the nature of the auto business does matter. As it is the rainy season, there are floods in some parts of Myanmar, including big cities like Mawlamyaing and Hpa-kant. It is usual that the auto business is not doing well at such time,” he says.

“Second, it has been over two and a half years since the authorities prohibited the issuing of licences to vehicles registered in Yangon region. Currently, discussions are underway to relax this restriction. We hope the regional government will re-allow the import of cars in the city next month. Potential buyers are all waiting for this announcement. So, they are not willing to panic.”

Yet, he expects better market conditions in the next open season from October until late May.

Currently, those who need to buy a car either for passenger use or for commercial purposes have two options to choose from if they want to drive their cars in Yangon, the nation’s commercial hub. One is to buy a slip of an old car licensed in Yangon, and another is to have their cars registered in other states and regions, he explained.

“Most of the buyers prefer Yangon-licensed vehicles because they are much easier to sell if they want to buy a new model. Provided that Yangon licences are currently prohibited, buyers usually have to bear some additional costs. If the authorities issue the Yangon licence again, there will not be such unnecessary costs, leading to lower auto prices here,” he says. He said traffic congestion still remains despite the ban on Yangon licences that the authorities put in place with the aim of solving heavy traffic in the city’s business districts.

At present, most of the new buyers usually register their cars in Bago region located near Yangon. “If Yangon licences are re-allowed, people will no longer buy the cars registered in other states and regions, except for some competitive advantages. Then, it will be hard for us to sell such cars,” he says.

Since late 2011 when the private sector was first allowed to import of vehicles, nearly 600,000 passenger cars and 350,000 commercial vehicles, including trucks and buses, have been imported – 70 per cent of them registered in Yangon region. Currently, Japan-made cars account for nearly 95 per cent of all the vehicles in Myanmar.

He urges the authorities to push for enactment of a by-law to accompany the Myanmar automobile law enacted in September 2015.

“It has been nearly three years since the law was enacted. But the by-law has yet to follow. Authorities should urgently undertake it,” he says.

The association played an active role in drafting an automobile policy in cooperation with the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry, during the previous government’s term. The changes in the administration delayed the enactment of the policy, he added. “It will be the best if we have a strong, stable policy framework in place. If not, all the players in the auto market will unavoidably face the music,” he says.

“Currently, the Ministry of Industry is drafting the new automobile policy, which has not been publicised yet. We are also keeping an eye on that. In reality, a policy cannot be as effective as a law can, because it does not include penalties for breaking something prohibited. Taking actions is needed to enforce rules and regulations.”

Only 7,500 new cars assembled in Thilawa Special Economic Zone were sold last year. Yet, he foresees a bright future for domestic manufacturing of brand new cars and spare parts over the next three years.

TMT executive vice president Vudhigorn Suriyachantananont said in the company’s monthly sales release that 84,965 vehicles were sold in the country in May, comprising of 33,160 cars (up by 26.8 per cent) and 51,805 commercial vehicles (up by 28.6 per cent).

During the first five months of the year, auto sales have already broken the 400,000 mark, with 401,264 vehicles, an increase of 18 per cent compared to the corresponding period last year.

“Demand for automobiles has been high since the start of the year, and the growth of the Thai economy due to favourable factors like exports and tourism all contribute to the growth of the automobile market,” Vudhigorn said.

He said auto sales in June are expected to maintain momentum, with an economic expansion coming from government and private sector investment projects, along with competitive sales promotions from auto companies. These factors make it easy for consumers to make a purchase decision despite unclear political scenarios and fluctuations in oil prices.

New features in the HR-V include Honda LaneWatch and City Brake Active System. The new HR-V will arrive at Honda showrooms nationwide from 8 July but booking is available.

Pitak Pruittisarikorn, Honda Automobile Co Ltd operating chief in Thailand, said: “The Honda HR-V, first launched in 2014, had the highest sales volume in the SUV segment for three consecutive years, with cumulative sales of over 66,000 vehicles. For the new model, we have set a sales target at 18,000 within one year after the launch.”

The new HR-V is available in three variants: E (Bt949,000), EL (Bt1,059,000) and RS (Bt1,119,000).