BANGKOK, Nov 2 – Nissan Motor (Thailand) says the company will invest Bt11 billion in Thailand for a new factory to manufacture pickup trucks.
Company president Takayuki Kimura and other executives said at a news conference that Nissan is going ahead with four-door vehicles as well as penetrate the market with more pickup trucks in order to gain a higher market share at 15 per cent by 2016.
Its investment of Bt11 billion will be at Bangkok’s Bangna area to manufacture pickups for domestic sale and export. It will also increase production capacity from the current 220,000 units/year to 370,000/year.
Nissan Motor (Thailand) has become the country’s leading car maker for eco cars, particularly electric and hybrid models, having the highest market share at 50 per cent in September of overall sales volume at 115,000 units.
The company said it is confident in Thailand’s economy and infrastructure as well its flood prevention measures.
Mr Takayuki said the Thai government had already signaled the automotive industry to prepare its strategy in the next three years once the new excise tax system takes effect with tax collection applied in accord with a vehicle’s emission level of carbon dioxide (CO2).
