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