The effects of special events on regression for subcompact car sales in Thailand

Abstract

This research proposes a method to dealing with multiple linear regression that integrates the seasonality as well as the effects of some special or unanticipated events for sales figures. The method is then applied to the car sales figures in Thailand after having been through the 2011 national big flood and the 2011-2012 government’s initiative tax-incentive program for boosting the automobile industry. Besides Thailand’s Gross Domestic Products (GDP) and the 12-month Loan’s Interest Rate as explanatory variables, seasonal dummy variables along with the proposed special event variables and appropriate event tagging are incorporated. The statistical results obtained from the proposed regression model with seasons and events, compared to the models with neither seasons nor both yields highest adjusted coefficient of determination (R-squre) and accuracy (MAPE).