TOYOTA TO BOOST PRODUCTION CAPACITY IN THAILAND

Tokyo―In order to increase its automobile-production capacity and level of service, Toyota Motor Thailand Co., Ltd (TMT), Toyota Motor Corporation's manufacturing arm in that country, announced today that it will invest about 9 billion baht (approximately ¥45 billion) over the next four years to expand production capacity at its existing plant. TMT will also establish a new production facility and service training center.

Under the plan, TMT will spend about 1.5 billion baht (approximately ¥7.5 billion) to increase the annual production at its Samrong plant from the present level of about 85,000 units to 150,000 units by 1997. The Samrong plant produces Hilux pickups and passenger cars such as the Corona and Corolla. At the same time, construction of a new plant with a capacity of 50,000 units will begin this year. Slated to begin operation by early 1996, the new plant will boost TMT's total production capacity to 200,000 units annually by 1997.

In addition, the company will also invest about 1.7 billion baht (approximately ¥8.5 billion) to establish a training center for service technicians for Toyota dealerships in Thailand. The center will eventually be able to train about 1,300 service technicians a year.

As a result of such investment, the number of Toyota Motor Thailand's 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.

Reference

Toyota Motor Thailand Co., Ltd. (as of January 31, 1993)