Honda not to withdraw production from Thailand

BANGKOK, March 21 (TNA) - Industry Minister M.R. Pongsavat Svasti and Board of Investment (BOI) Secretary-General Atchaka Sribunruang Brimble have confirmed that Japan-based Honda Motor Co.,Ltd. does not plan to withdraw its production base from Thailand and Suzuki, another leading Japanese car manufacturer, is scheduled to launch its eco-car in the country Wednesday. M.R. Pongsavat insisted that Japanese investors, especially those of Honda Co,, Ltd., are not relocating their production bases from Thailand to neighbouring Indonesia as earlier reported. M.R. Pongsavat acknowledged that Honda is, instead, investing some 12 billion baht to rehabilitate its flood-hit plant at the Rojana Industrial Park in Thailand's central Ayutthaya province. The BOI chief also confirmed that Honda will not relocate its plant from Thailand, explaining that automobile manufacturers have invested in other countries in accordance with their normal business expansion plans. The Thai industry minister later presided over a ceremony to launch the Suzuki eco car, called “All New Suzuki Swift”, making Suzuki the fourth automobile manufacturer to have launched eco car production in Thailand. The new eco car model, driven by a 1,242cc engine with an automatic transmission, has been developed from Suzuki Swift, which has been marketed in the country since 2009. Its prices range from 469,000 to 559,000 baht. Orders can be made from March 22, 2012 onward and Suzuki expects to sell 10,000 units of the eco car model this year. (TNA)