Thai export drive

BANGKOK: Japanese car and parts makers in Thailand will try to expand exports in response to slumping domestic demand here.

Toyota is planning to roughly quadruple export value this year to more than 10 billion baht.

The auto giant will begin exporting pickups from Thailand to Oceania this summer, replacing all exports to the area currently originating in Japan. Toyota will also start shipping parts to South Africa and other countries.

Mitsubishi began shifting production of pickups from Japan to Thailand in 1996, exporting 40,000 to about 40 countries last year. The company's Thai unit aims to export 50,000 pickups throughout the world this year, excluding the U.S.

New car sales in Thailand fell to about 360,000 last year, from 590,000 in 1996. The figure is expected to drop to 150,000 to 200,000 this year.