Footage shows the Bangkok Motor Show 2021 which opened this week as the country gradually eases its Covid-19 restrictions and the car industry recovers.

Classic cars from the ‘Vintage Car Club of Thailand’ were also displayed. They included models from MG, Jaguar, Lotus, Porsche and others.

Thai women in dresses and face masks posed alongside the latest models from top carmakers including Rolls Royce, Aston Martin and Mercedes.

Organiser Kwanchai Paphatphong said 32 car brands from nine countries and 12 motorcycle brands from seven countries attended the event. They displayed the latest vehicles, including those powered by electricity.

Unlike previous motor shows – best known for Thai models in revealing clothes – the women were more conservative this year and wore long dresses and face masks in order to comply with Covid-19 measures.

Visitors also had to show vaccine passports or have a negative antigen test upon entrance.

Officials said they expected around a million visitors during the course of the exhibition, which runs until December 12. Manufacturers were also predicting at least 30,000 orders – a similar number to last year.

Thailand has developed into an important production and export base for car manufacturers targeting the Asia and Southeast Asia markets.

The automotive industry now accounts for about 10 per cent of the country’s GDP. Japanese brands including Honda, Nissan, Toyota, Isuzu, Subaru, and Suzuki manufacture vehicles in Thailand for export to foreign markets.

Surapong Paisitpatanapong from the Federation of Thai Industries said an estimated 870,000 vehicles would be exported this year – a 40 per cent increase from 2020 when the industry was reeling from Covid-19 pandemic restrictions.