Toyota Inaugurates Gateway Plant in Thailand

Tokyo―TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) announced today that it held the official inauguration ceremony for the Gateway Plant of Toyota Motor Thailand Co., Ltd. (TMT), TMC's vehicle production and sales arm in Thailand. The ceremony took place within the new plant's site starting at 10:00 on Friday, April 25, local time (12:00 noon the same day JST).

Distinguished Thai guests at the ceremony included Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. Representing Toyota were TMC President Hiroshi Okuda and TMT President Yoshiaki Muramatsu.

TMT's state-of-the-art Gateway Plant began Corona production in February 1996, and manufacture of the Soluna, a passenger car exclusively for production overseas, started in December 1996.

The Gateway Plant's annual production capacity will be increased from the current 50,000 units to 100,000 after expansion by the end of 1997. Together with TMT's Samrong Plant, total annual production capacity will reach 240,000 units.

To contribute to the industrial development of Thailand, TMC and TMT are currently exporting the Hilux to Laos, Cambodia, Pakistan, and the Philippines. Soluna exports to Singapore and Brunei will start from mid 1997. Plans also call for Hilux exports to Oceania and Latin America in the second half of 1998 and to expand exports gradually to other countries outside Asia.

Further information is available on Toyota's Internet homepage

http://www.toyota.co.jp/week/e-index.html