Toyota Sure, the certified-used car business of Toyota Motor Thailand (TMT), will speed up opening new showrooms nationwide to spur sales despite the gloomy economic outlook.

TMT vice-president Sittachai Jirathanyasakul said the company established Toyota Sure in 2004 to provide integrated services to customers. It currently has 36 showrooms and another 28 dealers have signed letters of intent to operate Toyota's used-car outlets.

Some showrooms are under construction, with four to be completed this year and the remaining 24 to open next year to cope with the rising demand for used cars. "We will open showrooms in every province across the country in the near future," said Mr Sittachai. He said the sales of Toyota Sure's used cars had grown steadily since the subsidiary's inception.

They increased to 5,000 units last year and were projected to grow to 8,500 units this year although the automotive industry is in turbulence this year due to volatile oil prices. The prices of used cars during the period when fuel prices were high shrank by 20-30%.

Toyota Sure's sales increased after diesel prices exceeded those of gasoline. Gasoline-driven vehicles accounted for 60% of its total sales and pickup trucks the rest.

Mr Sittachai said Toyota Sure's sales were expected to grow to 12,000 units next year as a result of the plummetting oil prices and the speedy opening of the new showrooms.

"Our success is the result of the consumer confidence in our products and services that distinguish us from other used-car players because all Toyota Sure's used cars are certified, come with financing service and car price appraisal is provided," said Mr Sittachai.

All used Toyota cars are less than five years old or have run less than 120,000 kilometres. Cars that have been modified or in serious collisions are not accepted and every car has to pass a 176-point inspection. Toyota Sure offers a low 3.8% interest rate for car hire-purchase, 60 months of installment payments and one-year or 20,000-kilometre warranty for engine and powertrain systems.