Shanghai — Southeast Asia’s potential beckons as global vehicle makers look beyond China’s massive market to extend their sales boom in the region, but executives say they face a struggle to match the explosive Chinese growth. Chinese passenger-car sales have quadrupled over the past 10 years to 24.38-million in 2016, having become the world’s biggest market in 2009. But with Chinese economic growth moderating, one question being asked at the Shanghai Auto Show is, where in Asia can car makers look for the next boom? "There is a challenge to seek growth where the growth is. You look at countries that are less equipped and are in the process of growth or acceleration," said Marc Boilard, industry analyst at the firm Oliver Wyman. Southeast Asia’s potential remains significant, with more than 600-million people, solid economic growth and just 2.1-million passenger vehicles sold last year in the 10-country Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). But car makers say issues such a...
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