Japan’s Toyota Leads in Myanmar Auto Sales

Japan’s Toyota Leads in Myanmar Auto Sales
by -
Mizzima

Leading Japanese vehicle maker Toyota is still dominating Myanmar’s growing automobile market with a 53 percent share compared with top-notch Korean and Western automobile brands, according to an online survey released October 13.

Yangon-based Motors.com.mm conducted an online survey from October 6 to 10 based on online trading on its website, the Motors.com.mm’s Country Manager Sascha Pasqual Woelk told Mizzima October 15.  

 Hein Htet/Mizzima

The five-day survey showed that the Japanese Toyota brand stands at 53 percent in top position, Honda 11 percent, Nissan 8 percent, Hyundai 7 percent, Mitsubishi 6 percent, Suzuki and Korea KIA brand including European, US and Chinese brands 3 percent, Mazda and Daihatsu 2 percent, and Lexus, which is a division of Toyota, and Isuzu have 1 percent respectively, according to a press release.

The Toyota brand is highly durable, the vehicles perform well in Myanmar weather conditions, and there are no problems with spare parts, according to Mr Woelk.

Independent research about local automobile market conducted by the Singapore-based consultancy firm and one of the local car showrooms reflects the findings of the Motors.com.mm survey.

According to the report “Winning Myanmar’s Automotive Lubricant Market” released by Singapore-based Solidiance in September, Japanese brands are preferred as it is perceived that they are more durable that other brands, taking up to 80 percent of the total car market in the country.

Yangon-based Farmer Auto Car Showroom CEO Dr Soe Tun told Mizzima October 16 that the Toyota brand takes top position in the current automobile market according to a survey of 500 interviews regarding sales in the Yangon, Mandalay, Nay Pyi Taw and Magway regions, and Pathein city.

“Toyota’s car design is more attractive than others to local customers. Additionally, customers have easy access to buy spare parts, which means it is easy to sell this brand,” he said.

Motors.com.mm is currently working with 210 car showroom owners, and individual car importers, and about 95 percent of car brokers in Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw, Mr Woelk said. Currently there are 9, 500 vehicles for sale on the website, and since the site was opened in 2012, a total of 20,000 vehicles have been sold, he said.