We have revised up our forecast for new vehicle sales in Thailand to growth of 15.2% in 2018, up from our previous forecast of an 11.1% expansion. We continue to expect rising household spending, rising private sector investment, low interest rates, replacement demand following the expiry of the five-year lock-up period for vehicles bought under the first-time car buyer scheme and ongoing infrastructure development will drive growth in auto sales in the country over the remainder of 2018.

We have revised up our forecast for new vehicle sales in Thailand to growth of 15.2% in 2018, up from our previous forecast of an 11.1% expansion. We continue to expect rising household spending, rising private sector investment, low interest rates, replacement demand following the expiry of the five-year lock-up period for vehicles bought under the first-time car buyer scheme and ongoing infrastructure development will drive growth in auto sales in the country over the remainder of 2018.

The study on paint additives market is segmented based on product, application and regions. In terms of product, the market is divided into four major segments including rheology modifiers, biocides, anti-foamers, and wetting & dispersion agents. In terms of application, the paint additives market is segmented into architectural, industrial, wood & furniture and automotive.

The global protective coatings market has been segmented and analyzed on the basis of resin type, formulation, end use, and region. The key resin types considered in the analysis include acrylic, epoxy, polyurethane, alkyd, and polyester. The market has also been categorized on the basis of formulation into solvent-borne, water-borne, and powder-based. These coating products find several applications across the end-use verticals, namely, construction, oil & gas, aerospace, industrial, marine, automotive, power generation, and mining, among others. North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Central & South America, and Middle East & Africa have been considered for the regional analysis of the protective coatings market.

The automotive exterior lighting system, which comprises headlamps, rear lamps, fog lamps, and small lamps, enhance user driving experience and convenience. The growing concern for road safety among the government in various nations is fueling innovations in the field of automotive lighting. The increasing consumer demands regarding vehicle safety are due to an increase in development of ADAS. The rapid adoption of ADAS technology will lead to the growth of futuristic automotive lighting technologies such as laser headlamps and OLED lights, among others. Moreover, the increasing demand for electric vehicles is pushing the adoption of automotive lighting with low power consumption.

Global plastics volume was estimated at 281,047.96 kilotons in 2016. Over the past, there has been considerable demand for plastics as replacement for metals and alloys across various industries such as automotive, industrial machinery and consumer goods. The industry’s criticality lies on technology, since ever-increasing requirement of end-user in terms of product specification and versatility gradually tend to overshadow consumption dynamics. Other factors such as feedstock availability, production process and socio-political events have a significant impact on industry trends.

North Africa will be the key beneficiary of investment in autos manufacturing in the MENA region as the US withdrawal from the nuclear agreement with Iran forces foreign companies to rethink their strategy in the country. The recovery of Egypt's autos sector will continue to feature heavily in this North African growth story. In our regular round-up of production investments, we track the latest projects from the production side of the industry and analyse regional trends that we see developing. In doing so, we hope to build a picture of any potential hubs that may be developing, as well as company strategy in terms of production bases and export programmes.

North Africa will be the key beneficiary of investment in autos manufacturing in the MENA region as the US withdrawal from the nuclear agreement with Iran forces foreign companies to rethink their strategy in the country. The recovery of Egypt's autos sector will continue to feature heavily in this North African growth story. In our regular round-up of production investments, we track the latest projects from the production side of the industry and analyse regional trends that we see developing. In doing so, we hope to build a picture of any potential hubs that may be developing, as well as company strategy in terms of production bases and export programmes.

The mix of EV and internal combustion engine related investments in China in our latest investment round-up highlights the need for automakers to fulfil current demand while also preparing for the industry's future. In Pakistan, Al-Futtaim Group's plan to assemble Renault vehicles in the country continues to build on the growing market diversity theme identified in Q118's project round-up. In our regular round-up of production investments, we track the latest projects from the production side of the industry and analyse regional trends that we see developing. In doing so, we hope to build a picture of any potential hubs that may be developing, as well as company strategy in terms of production bases and export programmes.

The blockchain technology is expected to disrupt the automotive value chain in the near future. The magnitude of its impact might vary from stake holders to stake holders, but it surely encompasses the whole value chain. This section of the research study throws light on the push and the pull forces operating in the automotive blockchain market. It further studies the impact of these forces on the market growth.