Phuket Business: Andaman motor show drives sales; Limited companies spike

PHUKET: THE 14th Andaman Motor Show, organized last week at HomeWorks, opposite Central Festival Phuket, concluded with one of its most vibrant years in car sales.

The six-day event, this year under the theme “Summer on the Beach”, ended on Wednesday.

“We don’t have final figures for the overall number of car loan applications yet, but I have to admit that we are making better sales this year than the first two years we attended,” said Phichet Siripreuttikun, Kiatnakin Bank’s New Car Loan Marketing Manager for all of Thailand.

“By the nature of this kind of event, people usually make their decision whether or not to buy a car on the second-last day or on the final day of the show,” he added.

The trend for the car buyers this year is favoring pickup trucks and eco-friendly cars, said Mr Phichet.

“Pickups have became more popular since the flooding in Central Thailand, but this year is another good year for the eco-car market,” he added.

“We have approved more loans for people in Phuket compared with all other provinces in Southern Thailand,” Mr Phichet explained.

Kritchapanat Patwarasit, Marketing and Managing Director of event organizer ND Productions, pointed out there are vehicles from eight major Phuket dealerships on display at the show: namely Toyota, Isuzu, Volvo, Mazda, Chevrolet, Nissan, Ford, Mitsubishi, among others.

“Besides the wide range of vehicles from all the top dealerships, people who want to buy a car can expect special promotions that are difficult to resist,” he added.

Phuket resident Sumed Sutthikul, 42, agreed.

“I want to buy a pickup truck and I came to this event because I know I can expect tempting deals here – and I have found some great deals, even better than what they are offering at the showrooms,” said Mr Sumed.

“I will have to discuss this with my family and make a decision before the show closes,” he added.

Not all visitors were seeking a new car as the complimentary entertainment provided a major attraction in itself.

Popular Thai singer Kanitkul “Praw” Nestbud performed a mini-concert to a large crowd on Sunday, while the Andaman Junior Talent Contest on Saturday drew families from across the island.

And what Thai car show would be complete without sexy girl beauty competitions?

Mr Kritchapanat said: “Motor shows are all about special cars, tempting promotions and beautiful ladies. . .”

Every night of the event featured coyote dancers, with its finale: ‘Sexy Wash, featuring Ananya ‘Baifern’ Mongkolthai, runner-up of The Look Supermodel 2011 beauty pageant and the Final 20 contestant of the Miss Maxim 2011 contest, among other famous models.

Limited companies spike

Island officials have registered a decline in business dissolutions coupled with a rise in new limited liability companies (Co Ltd).

A DBD registrar has confirmed with the Phuket Gazette that there are currently no public companies registered in Phuket.