Sales of commercial vehicles over 2-tons gross vehicle weight (GVW) in East Asia’s seven main markets, excluding China, continued to decline in the fourth quarter of 2021, by almost 3% to 368,495 units after falling by 10% to 378,493 units in the third quarter, according to data compiled by www.AsiaMotorBusiness.com from numerous industry sources. 

Vietnam’s commercial vehicle market over 2 tons gvw resumed its recovery in the fourth quarter of 2021, with sales rising by 9% to 23,144 units from a reasonably strong 21,201 units in the same period of the previous year, according to AsiaMotorBusiness.com analysis of data from the Vietnam Automotive Manufacturers Association (VAMA). 

Sales of pickup trucks surged by 32% to 9,855 units in the fourth quarter of 2021 from 7,487 units in the same period of the previous year, resulting in a 29% rise in full-year sales to 25,325 units from 19,697 units in 2020. 

The Thai commercial vehicle market over 2 tons gvw declined by a further by 12% to 113,953 in the fourth quarter of 2021 from an already weak 129,470 units in the same period of the previous year, according to data and some estimates from industry sources compiled by www.AsiaMotorBusiness.com. 

Sales of pickup trucks, excluding passenger vehicle derivatives, declined by over 14% to 100,846 units in the fourth quarter of 2021 from 117,481 units a year earlier, resulting in full-year sales falling by 6.5% to 341,343 units from 364,883 units in 2020. The performance of segment was affected by sluggish domestic economic activity, which was affected by covid outbreaks particularly in the second half of the year.

Sales of domestic light commercial vehicles between 2-5 tons gvw dropped by 15% to 41,415 units in the fourth quarter of 2021 from 48,711 units a year earlier, with deliveries affected by supply-chain shortages. Full-year sales were down by 3.7% at 187,487 units from 194,791 units in 2020. 

Japan’s market for light commercial vehicles (between 2.0-4.5 tons gvw) fell by over 13% to 49,514 units in the fourth quarter of 2021, with sales affected by the covid resurgence in the second half of the year and by the resulting global shortages of semi-conductors. Full-year sales were just slightly lower at 230,968 units after a 13% decline to 267,007 units in the previous year.  

The Indonesian market for commercial vehicles over 2 tons gvw continued to recover strongly in the fourth quarter of 2021, with sales rising more than 60% to 47,210 units from a depressed 29,423 units a year earlier, based on AsiaMotorBusiness.com analysis of industry data. 

The pickup truck segment expanded by 45% to 6,256 units in the fourth quarter of 2021 after declining by 7.5% to 4,312 units a year earlier, resulting in a 44% rise in full-year sales 17,533 units. This segment is now entirely made up of models imported as built-up units from Thailand. The rebound in mining activity last year, driven by surging commodity prices, helped drive the segment’s recovery after a 34% decline in 2020. 

The market for commercial vehicles over 2 tons gvw in the Philippines continued to recover in the fourth quarter of 2021, by over 23% to record 28,223 units after declining by 32% to 22,860 units in the same period of the previous year, according to www.AsiaMotorBusiness.com analysis of data sourced from the industry. 

Sales of pickup trucks increased by over 13% to 15,002 units in the fourth quarter of 2021 after declining by 17% to 13,227 units in the same period of the previous year, as the economy continued to rebound from sharp declines in 2020. Full year sales were up by almost 20% at 48,101 units following a 41% decline to 40,187 units in 2020. 

The Malaysian commercial vehicle market over 2 tons gvw expanded by 5.4% year-on-year to 19,915 units in the fourth quarter of 2021 after rebounding by 25% to 18,893 units in the same period of the previous year, according to www.AsiaMotorBusiness.com analysis of industry data.