Local auto maker and assembler Truong Hai Auto Corporation (Thaco) has once again overtaken the long-time market leader Toyota Vietnam as the biggest sales achiever in the country.

Thaco broke the domestic sales dominance long held by Toyota Vietnam last month, according to a recent report by the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association (VAMA).

March saw Thaco securing 36% market share with its sales volume amounting to about 3,300 units, with 1,800 of them commercial vehicles and the remainder passenger cars.

Meanwhile, Toyota Vietnam dropped to second position with only about 2,680 units sold last month, holding 29% market share.

The whopping sales growth of Thaco is ascribable to its subsidiary Vina Mazda, which assembles and distributes Mazda cars. Thaco’s Mazda sales reached 676 units last month, making it the second most consumed auto brand in the local market with year-on-year growth of 230%.

In the pickup segment, BT-50 model of Thaco suddenly emerged as a redoubtable rival although it has two versions – 2.2L and 3.2L. The number of BT-50 cars sold last month came in second with 171 units, double that in the previous month and five times higher than in the same period last year.

Sales of Thaco’s Kia passenger cars alone amounted to around 850 units in March, 9.1% local market share and second after Toyota with a month-on-month rise of some 81%.

This is not the first time Thaco has become the top seller in the auto industry. It surpassed Toyota Vietnam in terms of auto sales in April and May in 2010 and March in 2011 but the Japanese auto firm took back its leading position until the end of February.

Local auto sales were close to 9,300 units last month, including about 6,190 passenger cars, 2,500 commercial vehicles and 616 other automobiles, VAMA said. This is the twelfth consecutive monthly growth of local auto sales compared to the year-ago period, which is considered a positive result compared to the 7,300 units consumed in this year’s February.

Local experts expect auto sales to continue strong growth in the next few months thanks to the introduction of State economic development policies, stable macroeconomic indicators and considerable money inflows. Notably, a sharp rise in sales of commercial vehicles is expected as there is stronger demand for medium duty and tipper trucks and semi-trailers that will replace heavy trucks.

Also, the sedan segment is projected to see sales grow this month due to higher demand in the upcoming public holidays on April 30 and May 1. Overall, VAMA forecasts this year’s auto sales at 120,000 units, a year-on-year rise of 9%.