Toyota is ready to invest in electric vehicle production in Thailand, but first needs infrastructure support from the government, Bangkok Post reports. The market leader made its stand after Thailand seeked support from Japan to build up the Kingdom as a manufacturing hub for pick-up trucks, hybrids and EVs.
Soichiro Okudaira, Toyota’s senior managing officer and chief technical officer for Asian Oceania and China, said the company was confident of building a manufacturing facility in Thailand for hybrids and EVs, but it needs to know the Thai government’s policy on the matter. Thailand has yet to develop an electric charging station network.
Okudaira said Toyota established its regional R&D unit in Thailand in 2007 with an investment of 1.3 billion baht to support its production of pickup trucks, passenger cars, hybrids and EVs. Toyota Motor Asia Pacific Engineering and Manufacturing Co (TMAP-EM), is located in Samut Prakan and can develop 52% of parts for Toyota’s hybrids that are made in Thailand such as the Prius and Camry Hybrid.
“TMAP-EM is efficient enough to support Thailand’s automotive industry in the long term. We know this because our pick-up truck Hilux Revo now uses 95% local content, up from 87% in 2007,” he said.
The idea was hatched following Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha’s visit to Japan earlier this year. After his visit, Prayut authorised the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) to work closely on joint development with the Japan External Trade Organization (Jetro) office in Bangkok. Both parties have since organised seven meetings with Japanese companies in Thailand.
Progress has now been made beyond talks – a record of discussions (RD) was signed earlier this week between the NESDB and the Science and Technology Ministry with Jetro. The NESDB is set to propose the details of the RD to a meeting of the National Innovation Development Committee, chaired by Gen Prayut.
According to NESDB’s secretary-general, Arkhom Termpitayapaisith, Japanese companies are willing to promote Thailand as a production hub for one-tonne pick-up trucks, hybrids and EVs if the Thai government was willing to waive import tariffs and excise tax on imported car prototypes and auto parts that had yet to be made in Thailand, the report said.
He added that Japanese firms also suggested that Thailand begin development of automotive testing centres for crash, high-speed, wind-tunnel, durability and emissions tests. Executives of Japanese firms with regional headquarters in Singapore have reportedly given their full support for the joint development.
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Sam loo please pujuk toyota to invest ev here!
Syabas tahniah kepada Dr.M, MITI selaku bapa industri otomotif Thailand!! Clap::clap::clap::
They close shop when they want, what left for Thai then?
Just because they may leave Thailand one day, you don’t want their investment at all?
Just because your wife might die earlier than you, you don’t want to marry at all?
Self-proclaim like Malaysia Govt BN ASEAN EV main station… Where it heading right now?? Longkang EV??
Toyota choose Thailand even the Government yet to support… Malaysia Government just self-proclaim yet NO INVESTOR interested in your LOUSY AP system protection !!!
Why so salty? You dun legible to get one ar?
Just asking the Govt if can’t handle it don’t even self-praise like DUmno ministers always do…
Toyota should ask Malaysia Gov to support. If we can support Proton, we can support Toyota right?
Now you got use brain. If we can give up Proton, Malaysians won’t have to suffer high non-national car price and poor Proton quality long long time ago.
To keep a company survive, just because someone has an impractical dream.
What are the ministers doing right now? Keep counting their own salary kah?
minister waiting for new projects…
we periodically see those cronies idiotic projjects from one cctv to catch to another cctv to catch again, recycle project with different theme
have we cry enough for such foreign investment losing in a new high tech industry?
oh wait, we got our Protong EV thats why we need to block others so can monopolize! t. f.
I thought our EEV Strategy is not really working looking at the type of new investment Thailand is getting now. The car brands are simply not interested to invest further in Malaysia if things are status quo. All the local assembly Hybrids will disappear from the Showroom once the incentive is over. Agree that Proton is a genuine national brand with own technology but they will ask why preference is still given to Daihatsu aka Perodua?
When i read this, and I imagine if Japan invested in Malaysia instead, all the BN cronnies will salivating at this statement….. “infrastructure support from the government”.
They are too afraid to give up 30% of whatever for nothing.