Nissan is the only major Japanese auto producer to not offer a PPV (Pickup Passenger Vehicle) in Thailand, despite using the country as the production base for its Navara 1-ton pickup truck.

But the good news is that after years of declining the chance to offer one, Nissan has finally decided to design and produce a PPV based on the Navara – the Terra.

Unfortunately, the Terra isn’t made in Thailand at the moment, with the first model being launched in China. Nissan Motor Thailand president Antoine Barthes told Thai media earlier this month that the Terra will be officially introduced later this year, and will play an important part in helping Nissan increase sales here, along with the Leaf EV, which is also yet to be launched despite the announcement being made over six months ago.

So for now, Nissan’s top model from its Navara platform is the Double Cab 4WD VL priced at Bt1.09 million.

For the 2018 model year, Nissan has upgraded the Navara lineup with the addition of an all-around view monitor system with tiny screens embedded within the rearview mirror. The picture quality and graphics are good, and it’s easy to flick your eyes to that area, but the screen is pretty small and is no match for larger console-mounted monitors.

The Navara is Nissan’s 12th-generation pickup (the company has been producing pickup trucks for a very long time and was even the market leader in Thailand during the 1970s). But since the launch of the current generation in 2014, the Navara had never really made its presence felt in the Thai market, managing to claim less than a 5-per-cent share in the Thai 1-ton pickup market this year.

From my point of view, the sales performance of the Navara doesn’t really reflect what the truck has to offer. After driving it for a few days, I started to like the Navara for many reasons.

Nissan engineers have put a lot of thought into the interior, which offers a good level of comfort and space, while the quality of the materials (or even the upholstery stitching) reminds you of passenger cars rather than pickups. The top model I drove came with a total of seven airbags (including a driver knee airbag).

The 190-hp 2.5-litre turbo diesel provides the Navara with 450Nm of torque, giving it plenty of pulling power. Just feed the gas and the 7-speed automatic transmission takes care of picking the best shift points.

There is a shift-on-the-fly function for the 4-wheel-drive system transfer case, allowing drivers to select 2- and 4-wheel-drive without having to stop the vehicle. A limited slip differential (LSD) helps maximise off-road capability, while Hill Start Assist (HAC) and Hill Descent Control (HDC) helps lower drama when going up or down steep inclines.

On the road, the Navara offers decent handling with a good degree of maneuverability, considering it is a 2-ton truck. The steering is beefy and precise for pickup standards (thanks to the double-wishbone front suspension and stabiliser), and the ride is really smooth despite using leaf springs at the rear.

The surprise came when driving over really poor roads with multiple potholes and large cracks, as the Navara’s suspension not only absorbed the shocks and vibrations effectively, but also very quietly. I was expecting loud noises from underneath the Navara, but it exceeded my expectations.

There is bad news, unfortunately.

While the retail pricing of the Navara Double Cab 4×4 VL was below the Bt1 million mark when

it was first launched (Bt996,000) four years ago, it has climbed over the fence and now costs Bt1.09 million (approximately 10 per cent higher).

With the Terra scheduled for a launch soon, potential double-cab buyers might also find themselves looking at the PPV too, if the price gap isn’t too wide.

Nissan Navara Double Cab 4×4

Engine: 4-cylinder

DOHC 16-valve: VGS Turbo Intercooler

Displacement: 2,488cc

Bore and stroke: 89x100mm

Compression ratio: 15:1

Max power: 190hp/3,600rpm

Max torque: 450Nm/2,000rpm

Transmission: 7-speed automatic

Ratios: 4.887/3.170/2.027/1.4102/1.000/0.864/0.775

Final drive ratio: 3.357

Suspension (f/r): double wishbone, stabiliser bar/multi-leaf springs, shock absorbers

Steering: power rack-and-pinion

Turning circle: 12.4 metres

Brakes (f/r): vented disc/drum

Length: 5,255mm

Width: 1,850mm

Height: 1,820mm

Wheelbase: 3.150mm

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

Weight: 1,960kg

Wheels: 18×7 alloys

Tyres: 255/60R18

Fuel tank capacity: 80 litres

Price: Bt1.09 million

Distributor: Nissan Motor Thailand

Of those, 29,888 were cars while 49,318 were commercial vehicles, an increase of 30.6 per cent compared to the corresponding month last year.

Vudhigorn Suriyachantananont, executive vice president at Toyota Motor Thailand Co Ltd, said auto companies participating in the Bangkok International Motor Show that ended in early April launched a large number of new models and sales promotions.

“The new models introduced gained popularity, while other contributing factors include improvements in Thailand’s exports and agricultural product prices,” he said.

Meanwhile from January to April, auto sales in the kingdom reached 316,299 vehicles, growing by 15.5 per cent.

The car market expanded by 13.3 per cent during this period, Vudhigorn said, while commercial vehicles experienced a 16.9-per-cent growth.

“Thailand’s economy has seen improvement both in exports and tourism, and the large number of new automobile models plus sales promotions from the start of the year has served as contributing factors to the market growth,” he added.

Vudhigorn said auto sales in May are expected to continue rising.

According to Vudhigorn, Thailand’s economy is improving continuously, while automakers and finance companies are offering attractive sales packages that help consumers make quicker purchase decisions.

“And although part of the consumer groups are concerned about the political situation in Thailand and overseas, there has been little effect on the automobile market,” he said.

During the first four months of 2018, Toyota was the top-selling brand with an aggregate of 87,502 vehicles, an increase of 14.2 per cent, followed by rivals Isuzu and Honda with 59,080 and 38,869 respectively.

While Toyota also leads the car market with four-month sales of 33,463 vehicles, up 8.7 per cent, it has yet to catch up with Isuzu in the commercial vehicle market. From January to April, Isuzu sold 59,080 commercial vehicles, marking a 9.8-per-cent growth.

Toyota, enjoying a 17.9-per-cent growth during this period, trails by more than 5,000 vehicles with 54,039 sales.

The AAS Body and Paint Centre of Excellence, a 2,500sqm plant with 50 mechanics on Vibhavadee-Rangsit Road near Don Muang International Airport, is now authorised to service Porsche, Bentley, Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles, company executives said.

The centre specialises in aluminium, carbon fibre and steel body repairs, and also features a modern paint shop, plus the latest diagnostics equipment.

The other two models tested since March, the Toyota Rush and Hyundai IONIC Hybrid, also earned five-star crash ratings.

The assessment looks at adult and child safety, impacts from all directions and other safety features.

Limited to only 100 vehicles, the H1 Touring also features leather upholstery and 16-inch “hyper-silver” alloy wheels.

The price has been set at Bt1.349 million.

Stating only that the Leaf will be launched “within fiscal year 2018” (ending in March next year), Nissan has already exhibited its latest electric vehicle (EV) at two major motor shows – the Thailand International Motor Expo in December last year and the Bangkok International Motor Show last month.

Nissan Motor (Thailand) Co Ltd (NMT) president Antoine Barthes told Thai media at the company’s mid-term press conference yesterday that Nissan is trying to educate not only its own customers but also the general public about the EV technology and lifestyle, before the official market launch of the Leaf.

Asked whether Nissan is waiting for the right timing and market environment, Barthes agreed, saying that Nissan has been working hard in educating the public about EVs at the two motor shows. The company has received a promising response from prospective customers, he said.

He said many Thai consumers are willing to purchase an EV, even at higher retail costs than comparative models running on traditional internal combustion engines (ICEs).

“According to a regional survey on EVs by Frost and Sullivan that includes Thailand, as much as 44 per cent of Thais interviewed said they are willing to consider purchasing an EV even if the retail price is 50 per cent higher than conventional ICE vehicles,” he said.

Nissan is working hard to grow its market share in Thailand, after being knocked from the No 3 position by Mazda – a much smaller automaker that has enjoyed tremendous growth in recent years thanks to highly attractive products – in the passenger car market.

But after being lambasted by Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi chairman Carlos Ghosn during a visit to Thailand in April last year as being “not good enough” in its performance, NMT lost little time in clawing back 1.3 percentage points of market share to finish 2017 with a 6.9 per cent share.

Barthes said that in the mid term, Nissan wants to raise its market share to figures in the double digits.

Significant growth is expected later this year with the planned introduction of the Terra, a PPV (pickup passenger vehicle) based on the Navara 1-ton pickup truck. Nissan and Mazda were the only major pickup producers in Thailand to not offer a PPV model, and over the years its executives had always denied any plans to build one.

But the Terra project has finally come to life, with the PPV launched in China this year. Thailand, already the global production centre of the Navara, automatically qualifies as a production and export site of the Terra.

Production of the Terra is expected to help drive up Nissan’s total output in Thailand. Barthes said Nissan will increase its production in Thailand this year by 23 per cent, but did not specify from which model range.

Barthes said Nissan expects the Thai auto market to grow at an average of 5 per cent a year over the next five years, with 950,000 vehicles to be sold in fiscal 2018 (April 2018 to March 2019).

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.