BANGKOK—Auto sales and production in Thailand tumbled again last month amid the nation’s political turmoil.
April production totaled 126,730 vehicles, down 25.6% from a year earlier, said the Federation of Thai Industries’ Automotive Industry Club—and a slight easing from March’s 29% contraction. Sales were off 33% over the year-earlier level to 73,242 vehicles.
For the January-April period, auto sales and production are down 43% and 27.8%, respectively, over a year earlier. The grim situation is starting to cost jobs.
“Auto makers and parts producers have started laying off their workers in May,” said Kovit Wongkolkitsilp, secretary-general of the FTI’s Auto Parts Industry Club. “Thailand’s economic slowdown as a result of delayed government investment projects has been largely attributed to the layoff.”
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