More than 1,330 units of the Ranger were sold in November, more than double the figure of last November and nearly 100 more than the second placed Toyota Vios. — Photo otosaigonvn.com

HCM CITY (Biz Hub) — In the Vietnamese auto market, pick-up trucks are becoming a bestseller thanks to their versatility and low prices and registration fee, auto dealers said.

In a recent report on the auto market in November the Viet Nam Automobile Manufacturers' Association (VAMA) said for the first time a pick-up - Ford Ranger - led sales, which traditionally used to be dominated by sedans and SUVs.

More than 1,330 units of the Ranger were sold in November, more than double the figure of last November and nearly 100 more than the second placed Toyota Vios.

Mazda BT-50, another pickup, was in ninth place with 438 units.

More than 7,618 pick-ups were sold in the year-to-date, accounting for a quarter of the auto market. In November alone 2,239 units were sold.

The Vietnamese pick-up market has seven players - Ford Ranger, Mazda BT-50, Mitsubishi Triton, Nissan NP300 Navara, Chevrolet Colorado, Isuzu D-Max and Toyota Hilux.

Doan Van Quang, national marketing deputy director at Mazda's passenger car division in Viet Nam, told Viet Nam News that demand for pick-ups was increasing sharply because of their versatility, which allows them to be used as a sedan to serve a family's daily use and travel needs at weekends, and also for business purposes.

They cost a moderate VND580 million ($25,800) to VND870 million ($38,700).

Quang also attributed segment's popularity to low registration fees, saying, "It is now only 2 per cent while the rate for other vehicles is 10-12 per cent."

Nguyen Le Hoai, sales director of Western Ford in HCM City, said auto companies had begun to focus on the pick-up segment, offering customers more options and lots of promotions.

He offered more reasons for their popularity, saying they would be a good option during the rainy season when it often floods.

He told Viet Nam News that many State-owned companies prefer pick-ups, revealing that his company had signed a big contract to supply Rangers to a giant telecom group.

"Pick-ups can be used to carry both people and cargo and are better than a luxury passenger car," he said.

The pick-up market is clearly set for a rapid ride as more and more Vietnamese are discovering the vehicles' utility and, according to the industry, many new options are set to be offered over the next several months. — VNS