Japanese reduce SE Asian presence

BANGKOK: Japanese carmakers will assemble 66 percent of all vehicles produced in four Southeast Asian countries in 2002, down from 76 percent at present, according to a U.S. research firm.

Furthermore, the U.S. Big Three carmakers -- General Motors, Chrysler and Ford -- are likely to expand their combined market share in those nations to 9 percent that year from the current 1 percent.

Despite this, Toyota Motor Corp is expected to hold the largest market share, followed by Mitsubishi Motors Corp and Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Bhd (Proton) of Malaysia.

Bangkok-based Automotive Research Asia expects the four countries -- Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines -- to produce a total of 1.49 million vehicles in 2002, citing the fact that only 4 percent of their combined populations now owns a car. However, because of the region's economic woes, vehicle output will decrease to 718,000 in 1998 from the previous year's 1.17 million.

The research body also predicts that Thailand and Malaysia will become auto exporters by 2002, selling 30 percent of their output abroad. Combined production this year is forecast at 980,000 vehicles.