Subarus in SE Asia

pitrack_1 · Post by **pitrack_1** » Wed May 02, 2012 5:39 am

I’m currently in Bangkok, Thailand and not a Subaru to be seen, although apparently there is a dealer in Bangkok and a few around...somewhere! Thailand is currently selling ~800,000cars/yr and a similar number of ‘pick-ups’ (Hilux utes) and growing a a quick rate. Subaru needs to be here and in other nearby countries if it wishes to grow its base and not get totally swamped by Toyota et al. Toyota has ~50% of the Thai car market.

At least I saw 3 Subarus (2 SH Foresters) in 3 days in Singapore... must have lower tariffs there!

On another note, diesels are being accepted here. The taxi fleet in Singapore is either CNG or diesel, and in both Bangkok and Singapore quite a few M-Bs and BMWs are the diesel engine types.

The issue seems to be the ASEAN (Association of SouthEast Asian Nations) FTA (Free Trade Agreement). As all Subies are produced in Japan (or Indiana for the US/North American market) there’s no manufacturing base within ASEAN- so all imports get hit by tariffs and excise. There’s 0% tariff between ASEAN countries. Toyota, Isuzu, Nissan, Ford, Mazda, Honda all have major manufacturing bases in Thailand (that’s where a lot of our ‘pick-ups’ come from). Toyota has ~42% of the new passenger vehicle market, Honda 2nd with ~30%. In the pick-ups, it’s Toyota with ~51% and Isuzu with ~25%. Figures reported in October 2010.

However it seems Subaru are trying to get in- at least half-heartedly- they’re going to assemble the XV in Malaysia to start some ASEAN market penetration. However the figures they’re hoping are 100-200 Thai sales this year, and 5000 across Malaysia/Thailand/Indonesia, which is ‘piddling in the sea’. The two vehicles they’re going to bring in are the XV (good) and the (ahem) BRZ- I can just see that carving up the (really) lumpy Bangkok roads through the gridlock!

Given the preponderance of Toyota Corollas, Camrys, and especially Hilux/Isuzu 4-door pick-ups as family vehicles I think the XV and Forester would go down well, Impreza possibly too. I’ve even seen a manual diesel Landcruiser being driven by a lady out of our hotel carpark...and the locally produced 4-door utes are very popular. You don’t see Klugers, Prados, RAV4s, X-Trails etc.

It may be that Subaru will have to bite the bullet and establish manufacturing outside of Japan. However the tariffs are coming down year-by-year. Either way I suspect Subaru need to access these rapidly growing markets with a voracious appetite for Japanese brands if they wish to survive/prosper independently in the future. Volumes provide income that funds model development and provides clout to negotiate better deals or quality with suppliers. It’s increasingly difficult for car companies to stand alone nowadays.

d_generate · Post by **d_generate** » Wed May 02, 2012 6:54 pm

I'm sure there are as many Isuzu trucks/wagons as HiLux there.
In the last 9 months I've spent 4 of them in Thailand, I can tell you exactly how many and where I saw Subi's...
BKK None,
Chiang Mai 1 Gen 2 Legacy,
Chiang Rai 1 early 80s MY and a black late model WRX,
Krabi 1 Gen 2 Legacy,
Koh Samui island a pig nose WRX and 10min later a GC WRX

Here is the dealer network in BKK and they have some magnificent cars for sale, expensive compared to here but not bad for Thailand. Check the pale blue wagon on the 1'st page and the old MY Coupe and Hatchy.
http://www.thaicar.com/en_boardquestion ... 4=0&stype=

Silverbullet · Post by **Silverbullet** » Wed May 02, 2012 7:52 pm

http://www.thaicar.com/en_showroom1.php ... id=Tent195

Want now

Just look at the condition that thing is in, well by the photos anyway

d_generate · Post by **d_generate** » Wed May 02, 2012 8:33 pm

Pretty tidy isn't it but around $2,400 hmmmmm.

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Wed May 02, 2012 9:05 pm

I only saw one Subaru when I was in Phucket, it was a MY sedan

NachaLuva · Post by **NachaLuva** » Fri May 04, 2012 12:00 pm

So was that hatch a 2WD? I love the hatch....

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Fri May 04, 2012 9:37 pm

Shame no close up on the fatties of the hatch

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Sat May 05, 2012 12:36 am

Very clean hatch. That thing is screaming out for a WRX drive train!!

Cheers

Bennie

d_generate · Post by **d_generate** » Sat May 05, 2012 2:17 am

I'm 98% sure I'm going to live in Thailand in about 3 months, only problem is I'll be living down near Phuket but it might still be for sale, I'd love it and I'll need a car of some sort..........HMMMMMM maybe!!!!!

Anyone interested in a modded WRX offroader? I need to get rid of at least one of my cars, just not sure which one as I love them both and put so much into them but storage is a bit of a problem and I could be there for years with just the odd visit back home.

pitrack_1 · Post by **pitrack_1** » Sat May 05, 2012 11:58 pm

Silverbullet wrote:http://www.thaicar.com/en_showroom1.php ... id=Tent195

Want now Just look at the condition that thing is in, well by the photos anyway

Hmmm, car's dealer seems to be located on outskirts of Bangkok. Hope the vehicle didn't experience the 2011 floods close-up!

kgrjohn · Post by **kgrjohn** » Sun May 06, 2012 1:17 am

how do you do?

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Subarus in SE Asia

Subarus in SE Asia

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