Autoplants:Eco-Car Setback

[admin]

Anyone know if the Pontiac Fiero was ever sold in Thailand? I'm looking for a stock Fiero (93.5" wheelbase).

thanks
ron

[demosthenes]

I've never seen a Fiero in Thailand before.

Are you looking to make a Fierorossa (http://www.gaspumpclassics.com/forsale/1992_Ferrari_Testarossa_Kit_Edmonton_Alberta_0404. html)?

I like the claim of '0km' on the odometer. Presumably the car was lifted into place on the street for the photo.

[admin]

No, i want to make a faux Lambo...

http://www.euroworksltd.com/MirageK/Stage1.htm

I don't think there are any Fieros here--I wonder what Japanese car would substitute?

[demosthenes]

I wonder what Japanese car would substitute?

Any car with the same chassis size ought to do the job.

Finding the mechanicals and a good garage to do it all would be tricky. One thing I've always thought about is a Cobra replica- some of them are very nicely done and it'd definitely turn some heads here, especially with a big rumbling V8.

The heat and traffic wouldn't be fun, though.

-Demo-

[jbg00d]

Hi everyone,

I thought I’d get your opinion regarding my fiero’s overheating problem.
I’ve had this car’s cooling system gone throw, everything is working properly,
But the damned car is still trying to overheat. :(

Now, I’ve found this: :confused:
[sorry no advertising here - admin]

This site offers a solution to this particular problem. It has a 100% money back guarantee if it doesn’t work. This guy seems to have integrity; does anyone have any info on this product? Thanks.

[admin]

the message above is spam, but i still would love to get my hands on a fiero in thailand (its a good base for kit cars)... anyone ever seen a fiero for sale here?

[ncr]

sounds interesting.......

Tata-Thonburi venture to make pickups (http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=115226) - Bangkok Post, 19 December 2006

New Delhi (dpa) - Indian auto major Tata Motors has formed a joint venture with Thailand's Thonburi Automotive Assembly Plant Company to build, assemble and sell pick-up trucks in Thailand, the company anounced Monday. The joint venture would make vehicles at Thonburi's manufacturing facility and would go on stream in about a year, Tata Motors said in a press release. Tata Motors will hold 70 per cent equity in the joint venture, while Thonburi will have 30 per cent.

"Both partners will jointly manage the operation. The pick-up trucks will conform to international standards in quality and safety and will be marketed in Thailand and exported to other potential markets in the region," the Tata release said. The Thai pick-up market is the second largest in the world after the United States, according to industry figures.

Tata Motors, with revenues of 5.5 billion US dollars in 2005-2006, is India's largest automobile company. It is the leading manufacturer of commercial vehicles in India and the second largest of passenger vehicles. Thonburi, established in 1941, is one of the largest independent auto assemblers in Thailand. It produced 4,150 passenger cars and 250 buses in 2005 with net revenue of 208 million US dollars.

[Wisarut]

Thonburi Assmebly? That's local Mercedez Benz assembly line run by the Viriyaphan family. No wonder, Tata has picked up Thonburi Assembly for this matter .... :) :rolleyes:

Viriyaphan family is an owner of Muang Boran and Prasart Sajjadham wooden castle ...

[jpatokal]

Somewhat unusual article in the Economist (http://economist.com/daily/news/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9370445):

In an attempt to boost the automotive industry, while also bolstering overall investment, Thailand has finally moved forward with a long-delayed plan to become a regional hub for the production of "eco-cars". On June 15th the Board of Investment (BoI) finalised a range of incentives for the production of such vehicles, and the government has also approved a large cut in excise taxes. While it is a nice idea to develop cheap environmentally friendly cars, there are likely to be a number of obstacles to the plan's success. ...

However, the automotive sector's boom now appears to be running out of gas. Total sales volume plunged by 16% year on year in January-April 2007 following a year-on-year drop of 3% in 2006, due primarily to weak consumer confidence in the face of intense political uncertainty.

[FarangBha]

seems the Eco has gone decidedly anti Thailand since the coup. Understandable from their perspective, but you'd think they'd have a better understanding of the underlying causes.

[GWR]

The mind boggles! Don't let it boggle too long if you have any info about this. Doubtless the reporter knows but isn't allowed to say:

Four luxury cars seized

Police seized four luxury vehicles Monday from a department store carpark they said had been smuggled into the country by "the children of influential people, the rich, politicians and senior government officials".

Economic and Technological Crime Suppression Division commander Major General Wisut Wanitchabutr said one of the vehicles had been partly assembled here. The others were allegedly smuggled in fully assembled.

He did not identify the owners or their family relationships.

The four cars were seized at a carpark by a miniature race circuit near the Seacon Square shopping area in Bangkok's Suan Luang district.

The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30038986

[BangkokPundit]

But if it was connected with the "old power" clique surely we would have been leaked by now.

[Nekochan]

If those people are influential, why their shipping got caught so easily???

Would those cops be transfered somewhere? To Yala?:confused:

[doseiai]

Seems to me they'd be better off putting smog filters on tuk-tuks and replacing old buses. Consumption cuts won't do much for Thailand when for every liter saved here, US wastes 100 liters. Oh yeah, and better policing of smog inspections wouldn't hurt.

[GWR]

Big Proton plans for Thailand

By LAALITHA HUNT

PETALING JAYA: Amid the scepticism whether Proton Holdings Bhd is able to operate on its own, the national carmaker is forging ahead to enter the Thai market.

Managing director Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir told StarBiz: “Proton is planning to open five branches in Thailand in locations like Bangkok, Haadyai and Chiangrai and we plan to launch a few Proton models such as the GEN.2, Satria and Waja there probably next week. We will introduce the Persona next year.”

http://biz.thestar.com.my/archives/2007/11/23/business/zainal.jpg
[Sketch: The Star]

...........
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/11/23/business/19553026&sec=business

[GWR]

November 28, 2007 11:42 AM

Thailand Offers Tax Reduction For Fuel-saving Car

BANGKOK, Nov 28 (Bernama) -- The Thai Cabinet on Tuesday gave the green light to the Ministry of Finance to cut the excise duty for so-called "ecocar" manufacturers, intending to promote production of energy-saving automobiles, Thailand News Agency (TNA) quoted Surapon Supradit, acting director general of the Excise Department, as saying.

Under the announcement formally issued Tuesday, ecocar producers will enjoy privileges in the form of tariff cuts from 30 per cent to 17 per cent.

The Board of Investment (BoI) will later issue clear terms and conditions for intending manufacturers to apply for incentives.

The Ministry of Industry will issue specifications and other incentives for ecocar manufacturers.

Honda Automobile (Thailand) Co has already applied for the incentives.

Prospective ecocar manufacturers must apply for BoI privileges by the end of this month to be able to produce fuel-efficient cars from October 1, 2009.

-- BERNAMA
Non-specific link:
http://www.bernama.com.my/

[GWR]

Eco-car approvals
International firms apply to build new plants
Published on December 8, 2007

Altogether seven auto-makers have applied to build eco-car plants requiring investment of more than Bt40 billion, and the Board of Investment has now approved them for Honda, Nissan and Suzuki.

The other four projects were proposed by Toyota, Mitsubishi, Tata and Volkswagen on November 30.

Each auto-maker is required to invest at least Bt5 billion to win BoI's tax incentives.

The investment-promotion agency expects to consider and approve all remaining eco-car projects by next month, Deputy Prime Minister and Industry Minister Kosit Panpiemras said while expressing satisfaction with the overwhelming interest in the government's plan for a second pillar in its "Detroit of Asia" policy.

"This should be a role model for the BoI to encourage investment in other industries by considering the country's benefit its priority," he said.

Eco-cars are either petrol-fuelled vehicles with an engine size of no more than 1,300 cubic centimetres or diesel-fuelled vehicles with engines up to 1,400cc. They must not consume more than one litre of fuel for every 20 kilometres and must emit no more than 120 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre.

No eco-cars are produced here yet, but the government is trying to turn the country into a production centre for them.

Suzuki Motor, with Bt9.5 billion, plans to produce 138,000 eco-cars a year in Rayong, 19 per cent of which will be sold locally, with the rest exported to Asia, Australia and Africa, Kosit said after chairing the regular BoI meeting.

Fellow Japanese carmaker Siam Nissan Automobile will invest Bt5.55 billion in making environmentally friendly cars in Samut Prakan, with annual capacity of 120,000 units. It will export most of its output to Asia and Australia.

Asian Honda Motors, with Bt6.7 billion, will locate its 120,000 unit-a-year eco-car assembly facility in Ayutthaya.

Kosit was also pleased with the country's level of direct investments this year. He estimates total approved projects would be worth nearly Bt700 billion this year, up from Bt373.5 billion last year.

The BoI has already approved investment applications worth about Bt650 billion this year, particularly for automobile, electronics, petrochemical and ethanol plants.

"I always said the Kingdom's investment would recover in the third quarter. I believe the momentum of investment will continue gaining steam in the coming year," he said.

Although he declined to comment on the country's economy in the coming year, he believes domestic consumption would increase in line with the new investment.

Chalida Ekvitthayavechnukul

The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/12/08/business/business_30058542.php

[GWR]

http://www.tatapeoplescar.com/tatamotors/images/stories/gallery/dazzlingred/standard1.jpg
[Photo: http://www.tatapeoplescar.com/tatamotors/]

India auto drive

Tata Motors of India has unveiled the world's cheapest motor car and reports say the Indian firm is likely to build and sell the 82,500-baht auto in Thailand.

The four-door Tata Nano was shown on Thursday at India's biggest car show in the capital, New Delhi. It sells for 100,000 rupees, or $2,500.

The four-door five-seater car, which goes on sale later this year, has a 33bhp, 624cc, engine at the rear. It has no air conditioning, no electric windows and no power steering, but two deluxe models will be on offer.

Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata has dropped strong hints to the Indian media that he expects to make and market the car in Thailand.

According to the Times of India, Tata told reporters at the auto show that, "The car could do well in Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia."

Asked specifically if he intended to make the Nano at a planned new assembly plant at the "Detroit of Asia" in Rayong in the future, Tata refused to comment.

Tata said several countries have shown interest in building the car. "I can't name these countries now but two of them have shown firm interest," he said.

But it is known that the Indian firm is in advanced talks to set up a plant in Rayong to produce a so-called eco-car which will be heavily subsidised by various industrial and tax incentives.

The company’s most recent joint venture was with Thonburi Automotive in 2006, to manufacture and market pick-up trucks in Thailand. The project will produce 35,000 1-ton trucks a year, to be sold in the domestic market.

Last week, Forbes magazine reported on its website that a spokesperson for Tata Motors had confirmed plans for a project in Thailand but refused to reveal any details. The report said that Tata Motors plans to invest around $200 million and roll out 100,000 cars annually from Thailand, where it could create an auto components hub around the small car. (Compiled by BangkokPost.com)

Link may expire:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/topstories/topstories.php?id=125031

[GWR]

Govt's incentives insufficient for E85 cars made in Thailand

PATTAYA, June 5 (TNA) -- Fourteen car manufacturers in Thailand have delivered their assessment that the Thai government's measures and incentives are still not attractive enough to induce manufacturers to produce E85 vehicles in the Kingdom, said Deputy Prime Minister and Industry Minister Suwit Khunkitti on Thursday.

Mr. Suwit said he had met with 14 automobile manufacturers who told him that the Thai government's measures and incentives were still insufficient to induce car manufacturers to produce E85 vehicles in this country.

He said his ministry would ask the manufacturers what added measures they wanted in a bid to enable the country to become a hub for alternative energies for automobiles.

The government is going all out to encourage more motorists to switch to using E85, a blend of 85 per cent ethanol and 15 per cent gasoline.

On Tuesday, the cabinet gave a green light to exempt import tariffs on E85 car parts as well as lowering excise taxes for E85-powered cars.

According to Mr. Suwit, the manufacturers also said they would continue to concentrate on manufacturing eco-cars, but that the government plan to promote manufacturing E85-powered cars would not affect their businesses.

Currently, six eco-car projects have received Board of Investment's privileges. Combined production is estimated at 800,000 units in the next six-seven years which would make Thailand an important production base for energy-saving cars.

Mr. Suwit said his ministry would soon meet again with all 14 producers to lay out a long-term automotive industry pilot plan, designed to make Thailand a significant passenger car production hub, apart from being a one-tonne pickup truck hub.

Thailand's production of passenger cars is still lower than other countries, said Mr. Suwit. (TNA)

Business News : Last Update : 21:04:49 5 June 2008 (GMT+7:00)
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