GM opens automotive plant in Thailand<\/p>\n
RAYONG, Thailand (DPA): General Motors (Thailand) opened a
\nUS$650 million automotive assembly plant in southeast Thailand on
\nThursday and called it a linchpin to the world's largest
\nautomotive company's expansion into the Asia Pacific region.<\/p>\n
Thailand's Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn officially opened
\nthe plant, 130 kilometers southeast of Bangkok in the Eastern
\nSeaboard Industrial Estate, often called the \"Detroit of the
\nEast\" because of the numerous automotive and vehicle parts
\nfactories in the area.<\/p>\n
General Motors Corporation Board Chairman John Smith Jr said
\nhis company brought its experience from all its other plants and
\nthe Thai factory is as good as any in the world.<\/p>\n
The fully-integrated plant, with press, body, paint and final
\nassembly shops, is the most modern in Thailand and will produce
\nabout 8,000 cars this year, with plans to increase production to
\nnearly 60,000 in 2001, General Motors (Thailand) President
\nWilliam Botwick said.<\/p>\n
Total export value of the vehicles produced at the Thai plant
\nwill be between $550 and 600 million, with 90 percent of
\nproduction going to foreign markets, Botwick said.<\/p>\n
The Thai plant, which will employ 1,200 by the end of the
\nyear, was modeled on a GM plant in Eisenach, Germany. They will
\nbe the only two factories producing the Zafira, a seven-seat
\npassenger mini-van.<\/p>\n
\"We are still focusing all our efforts making sure the Zapira
\nlaunch is successful, but we are studying hard, various
\nalternatives,\" for the future, Botwick said.<\/p>\n
Small utility vehicles such as pickup trucks, which make up
\nmore than half of the Thai market, are among the other vehicles
\nunder consideration, he added.<\/p>\n
Demand for the Zafira exceeds the volume of 60,000 units the
\ncompany plans to reach next year, and plans are already in the
\nworks to increase capacity to 130,000 after the factory is
\nexpanded, Botwick said.<\/p>\n
\"We are looking at getting to capacity in 2004 or 2005,
\npossibly a little earlier. The implementation of AFTA (ASEAN Free
\nTrade Area) on a timely basis would obviously help,\" Botwick
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The Asia region, from India to Japan to Australia, looks like
\nit will expand on the current 12.8 million vehicles sold per year
\nby 6 per cent annually, Rudolph Schlais, president of G.M. Asia
\nPacific said.<\/p>\n
He added that although it is a very competitive market, G.M.
\nplans to remain the world's largest producer of cars.<\/p>\n
In Thailand the company's aim is to be one of the big three
\nsellers, with at least a 10 percent share of the market, by 2004,
\nSchlais said.<\/p>\n
General Motors Corporation brands include Chevrolet, Buick,
\nCadillac, Oldsmobile, GMC, Holden, Opel, Pontiac, Saturn, Saab
\nand Vauxhall.<\/p>\n
G.M. also owns 49 percent of Isuzu, 20 percent each Subaru and
\nFiat, and 10 percent of Suzuki.<\/p>",
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