The ASEAN economy grew 4.9% within the third quarter of 2018, supported by strong domestic demand. However, this still represents a lack of momentum after growing by 5.2% within the second quarter.
After Singapore and Vietnam released GDP readings in October, this month it was the turn of regional heavyweight Indonesia, which accounts for greater than a 3rd of ASEAN’s nominal GDP. Indonesia’s economy grew at a solid pace within the third quarter, driven by buoyant private consumption – boosted by employment growth and mild inflation – and rising public consumption and glued asset investment. However, the external sector continued to have a negative impact on the economy on account of rising imports.
Growth within the Philippines weakened within the third quarter, even though it remained the envy of most other economies within the region. Intensifying price pressures hampered the expansion of personal consumption, while government infrastructure efforts – despite the revival of fixed investments – sucked in imports, which led to a negative contribution from the foreign sector.
The rating of the best-selling cars within the region relies on sales data from Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Laos, Burma and Cambodia.
In the primary ten months of 2018, the previous leader again topped the list, Toyota Hiluxmade in Thailand, with sales of 152,054 (+24.9%) with a slight difference to the second Isuzu D-Max, also produced in Thailand, selling 134,902 units (+11.9%)
The third was a model leader in Malaysia, Perodua Axia with 89,373 sales (+33.0%) followed Toyota Vios with 82,866 units (-11.3%), the standard leader in Indonesia (but not this yr) and MPV Toyota Avanza from 81,188 (-29.0%)
The recent star landed in sixth place, i.e Mitsubishi Xpanderalready on top in Indonesia with sales of 77,688.
In seventh place Honda City from 74,862 (+2.3%) before Toyota innovation from 73,750 (-11.2%), Honda HR-V with 71,374 (-6.7%) and in tenth place Ford Ranger with 66,934 (+11.1%).
Source: Focus2move.com
