Thai Mitsubishi trucks

Thai Mitsubishi trucks

TOKYO (AFP): Japan's Mitsubishi Motors Corp. plans to boost its pickup truck production in Thailand by 40 percent from the current level by 2000, Jiji Press quoted company officials as saying Saturday.

In view of robust demand for its one-tonne Strada trucks, the automaker plans to raise the output to 60,000 units a year by expanding capacity at its plant in Bangkok, the officials said.

Thailand's automobile market hit 570,000 units in 1995, of which 55 percent was one-tonne pickup trucks, the news agency said.

Japan's Mazda Motor Corp. and U.S. auto giant Ford Motor Co. also plan to start joint truck production in Thailand in 1998, fueling competition on the fast-growing market.