5 millionth Thai made Toyota produced

[Admin]

5 millionth Thai made Toyota produced 
The Nation: 4 Dec 2010
Toyota announces 5 millionth Thai-made vehicle
By KINGSLEY WIJAYASINHA

Japanese carmaker Toyota has produced its 5 millionth vehicle in Thailand since entering the country in 1962.

The company marked the milestone at its Ban Pho plant in Chachoengsao yesterday with a ceremony attended by Toyota Motor Corp president Akio Toyoda, Thai Industry Minister Chaiwut Bannawat, Toyota Motor Thailand executives and Toyota dealers.

After setting up the Thai subsidiary in 1962, Toyota started producing cars two years later at its Samrong plant, reaching the 1-million-unit production mark in 1996.

In 1996 Toyota also opened its second plant in Thailand. The Gateway plant in Chachoengsao was the first to use servo robots and produced a range of passenger cars.

The 1997 economic crisis saw the company change strategies, starting export of vehicles from Thailand in order to keep plants running. Toyota was one of the few companies that did not lay off employees or cut salaries. It worked closely with parts suppliers and dealers to implement effective cost-cutting measures.

Exports of Thai-made vehicles and parts helped maintain economies of scale, and Thailand soon became one of Toyota's global manufacturing and export bases.

In 2004 Toyota implemented the IMV (Innovative Multi-Purpose Vehicle) project, which included the production of the Hilux Vigo and Fortuner. The Bt30-billion investment resulted in the Ban Pho plant being built in Chachoengsao.

Today, the Samrong, Gateway and Ban Pho plants have capacities of 230,000, 200,000 and 120,000 units per year respectively.

Accumulated production reached 2 million units in 2004, 3 million in 2006, 4 million in 2008 and 5 million units this year. Total exports also reached 1 million units in 2010.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2010/12/04/business/Toyota-announces-5-millionth-Thai-made-vehicle-30143774.html