TOYOTA BEGINS CONSTRUCTION OF SECOND THAILAND PLANT

Tokyo―TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION announced today that its Thai manufacturing arm, Toyota Motor Thailand Co., Ltd., carried out a ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of a new plant slated to commence operations by early 1996. The new Toyota Gateway Plant is initially scheduled to produce 50,000 units per year.

Construction of the Gateway facility is part of a 9 billion baht (approx. ¥ 45 billion) plan Toyota announced in February to increase production capacity and to raise the level of dealer service in Thailand.

In addition to constructing the new plant, Toyota will expand its already existing Samrong plant to increase annual production from the present level of about 85,000 units to 150,000 units by 1997. The facility currently makes Hilux pickups, and Corolla and Corona passenger cars.

With the investment, the number of Toyota Motor Thailand employees is expected to rise from the current total of 3,500 to around 6,000 by 1997, making a significant contribution to the growth of Thailand's automotive industry and economy.