Ford, Mazda launch new pickup

Ford, Mazda launch new pickup

BANGKOK (DPA): Automobile giants Ford and Mazda yesterday launched separate brand pickups from their US$470 million joint venture factory on Thailand's east coast, company sources said.

The launch, which was presided over by Thai Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai and the U.S. and Japanese ambassadors, comes at a time when Thailand is sinking into deep recession and automobile sales have plummeted.

"We view the present economic situation in Thailand to be short-term, and we expect to see some gradual recovery in the industry over the next two to three years," said Wayne Booker, Ford vice chairman and chairman of the AutoAlliance (Thailand ) Company - a joint venture between Ford and Mazda.

AutoAlliance's $470 million factory in Rayong Province, about 180 kilometers east of Bangkok, yesterday officially launched production of the Ford Ranger compact and Mazda Fighter/B series one-ton pickups.