| Two Japanese automakers namely Honda and | | | | 539,206 units wherein more than 60 percent |
| Nissan, Japan's second and third largest | | | | were pick-up trucks that is according to |
| carmakers respectively were reported to be | | | | Thailand Automotive Institute. Likewise, the |
| seeking for a license to set up plants in | | | | values of the vehicle exports which are |
| Thailand. These two automakers will use the | | | | mostly headed to Australia, the Middle East, |
| plants in Thailand to build their | | | | and Europe have also increase by 19 percent. |
| fuel-efficient cars in support of Thailand's | | | | |
| aim to become an eco-car production center. | | | | In order to be granted a license, auto |
| | | | companies must build vehicles with engines of |
| Thailand is scheduled to release license on | | | | no more than 1.3 liters that are able to run |
| February of next year to an unspecified | | | | more than 20 kilometers on a liter of petrol. |
| number of carmakers according to Satit | | | | Aside from that, the plant should at least |
| Chanjanakul, Secretary-General of the Board | | | | build 100,000 vehicles annually by the fifth |
| of Investment. He also added that the | | | | year of operation. |
| Thailand government will offer tax breaks and | | | | |
| lower tariffs on machinery imports to the | | | | Honda spokeswoman Yasuko Matsuura in Tokyo |
| companies. | | | | said, "We're considering various options, but |
| | | | nothing has been decided." |
| At present there is an increasing demand for | | | | |
| vehicles that are fuel efficient and utilizes | | | | Thailand is not the only Asian country that |
| the hybrid technology attributed to the ever | | | | is hoping to become a vehicle production |
| increasing gasoline prices as well as the | | | | center as a matter of fact India's government |
| increasing awareness to preserve the | | | | last year has cut taxes on hatchbacks in its |
| environment. | | | | desire to become a global base for small |
| | | | cars. |
| Two of the world's largest automakers namely | | | | |
| Toyota and General Motors producer of quality | | | | There are already Japanese automakers that |
| Saab 900 parts have their manufacturing | | | | have started building factories in India for |
| plants in Thailand already. They use these | | | | exporting small cars namely Suzuki Motor |
| manufacturing plants for the production of | | | | Corp, Nissan, and Hyundai Motor Co. |
| pickup trucks. Toyota and General Motors are | | | | |
| planning of expanding their car production to | | | | According to John Bonnel, a director at the |
| add to lat year's 241 billion baht worth of | | | | Bangkok unit of J.D. Power & Associates the |
| vehicle exports. | | | | Thai government's plan of making the country |
| | | | a center for pick-up trucks is not going to |
| Mr, Satit said, "The government wants | | | | be easy. But he also said that the country |
| fuel-efficient cars to be the country's | | | | has a substantial demand for pickup trucks |
| future main export product after our | | | | and its much easier converting the country to |
| successes in promoting shipments of pick-up | | | | an export-oriented hub. Mr. Bonnel explained |
| trucks." | | | | during a phone interview that the car project |
| | | | is "starting from scratch in terms of the |
| Last year Thailand's auto exports has | | | | market demand in Thailand. The demand is not |
| increase by 22 percent from a year earlier to | | | | there and has to be created. |