Thailand to launch Eco Car 2 Project

BANGKOK, April 29 (TNA) - The Thai Ministry of Industry has set up a working group to consider proposals from participants of the Eco Car 2 Project, before they will be forwarded to the new Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI) for further consideration. Permanent Secretary For Industry Witoon Simachokedee told reporters on Tuesday that Caretaker Industry Minister Prasert Boonchaisuk has formed the working group since April 25 and assigned it to plan the Eco Car 2 Project carefully and quickly for national interest. Witoon revealed that 10 automobile manufacturers have sought promotional privileges for joining the Thai Eco Car 2 Project, consisting of participants in the first phase of the Thai Eco Car Project, namely Nissan, Honda, Mitsubishi, Suzuki and Toyota, and newly-interested parties, including Chevrolet, Ford, Mazda, Volkswagen and MG. According to the senior official, their intended investment funds are estimated at 138.89 billion baht totally, with their combined production capacity of about 1.5 million vehicles, and their interest shows confidence in the potential of the Thai automobile industry at the regional and global levels. The permanent secretary for industry elaborated that the working group will consider preliminary proposals from the interested parties, covering technical specifications of their eco cars, conditions for production, the development of their auto parts producers, as well as tax and other measures, to see whether their proposals comply with the BOI's regulations. The working group, chaired by the Thai permanent secretary for industry, will have its first meeting next month. (TNA)