Sales of one-tonne pick-up trucks in Thailand fell for the fifth straight month in August, reflecting other signs of a softening economy, according to a Reuters index that uses vehicle data as an economic indicator.
The seasonally adjusted index, which is subject to revision, showed trend sales fell about 6.5 percent in August from July. Sales fell 6.7 percent in the year through August.
The sluggish August sales were well below growth of more than two percent a month between April and November of 2003, the index showed. According to Toyota Motor Thailand Co Ltd, which compiles sales data for the industry, August sales of 20,470 light trucks were the lowest in 18 months.
It said buyers delayed placing orders in August to wait for the global launch of the firm's new Thai-made trucks.
The Japanese auto maker said it sold only 1,100 small trucks in August, down from 5,818 in July and 8,523 in August 2003.