ONE-TON PICKUP TRUCKS

Thanks to the rivalry between Isuzu D-Max and Toyota Vigo, the pickup segment is heading for a record year as sales are expected to top the 400,000-mark for the first time in history. Based on 11-month sales of 390,039 units and an estimated 50,000 units or more in December to close out the fourth quarter, the domestic pickup market could well be worth 450,000 units this year. The segment expanded 21.5% from January to November compared to the same period last year. Chevrolet (157.5%), Mitsubishi (31.9%), Toyota (22.2%) and Isuzu (19.5%) provided the surge for the segment, the first three posting above average growth rates. In fact, Isuzu and Toyota are the "market" from the perspective of sales volume. In layman's terms, Isuzu and Toyota combine almost equally to account for seven out of 10 pickups seen on the road. Isuzu has a market share of 37.5% and Toyota 33.6%. Isuzu should top the commercial vehicle segment for the 23rd year running with sales of 165,000 units, well ahead of Toyota which is expected to net sales of about 145,000 units. Ford could give Chevrolet a run for its money next year when its model-change pickup, previewed in concept form at the Motor Expo earlier this month, hits the market. That said, Isuzu and Toyota should be followed by Mitsubishi (8.4%), Nissan (7.2%), Chevrolet (5.8%), Ford (4.4%) and Mazda (2.8%), in that order as the year comes to an end.

In Thailand, sales of Hilux Vigo pickups, the first model in the IMV family, passed 110,000 units after the first seven months of production, with a 36% share of the market segment. Toyota announced in 2002 that Thailand would be the company's global manufacturing base for pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles and diesel engines. Toyota has already spent 30 billion baht since 2002 under its IMV programme, doubling production capacity of pickup trucks at its Samrong plant in Samut Prakan to 250,000 units per year and also expanding its parts manufacturing facilities. The exact location of the new plant is still not decided, but will be located near Bangkok.The new plant will have a production capacity of 100,000 pickup trucks per year to complement output at the Samrong plant. Construction of Toyota's first new plant of century is tentatively set to begin within months, with completion scheduled in 2007.Another three billion baht will go to the plan to expand the production capacity of Toyota's plant at Gateway Industrial Estate in Chachoengsao to 200,000 vehicles from the existing 110,000 units per year. The plant is dedicated to the production of sedans and mini-multi-purpose vehicles, including the Camry, Corolla, Vios and Wish models. The expansion of the Gateway plant will be completed next year.