Ford and Mazda are to invest US$350m at their AutoAlliance joint venture in Thailand to build the next generation compact pickup trucks.
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The plant at Rayong is scheduled to begin manufacturing new generation compact pickups for both brands in the middle of next year.
The new truck line is expected to be Ford’s latest global model and will replace both the current AAT-built models and a separate line Ford builds for both brands in the US.
The investment is for facility upgrades and supplier tooling and will increase the pair’s total joint investment in AutoAlliance Thailand (AAT) to over US$1.85bn since operations began in 1995.
Ford Asia Pacific/Africa head Joe Hinrichs said: “This new investment in AAT reinforces Ford’s long-term commitment to Thailand as a strategic manufacturing base for our global operations. The new production line and the continued commitment of our Thai suppliers, will raise the bar in flexibility, efficiency, quality and environmentally-friendly production at AAT.”
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By GlobalDataAutoAlliance Thailand, already one of the most modern plants in the country, and exports Ford and Mazda pickup trucks to about 130 markets.
In July 2007 it produced vehicle 1m and last year added a new passenger car plant which produces the Mazda 2 and Ford Fiesta for sale in Thailand as well as for export to ASEAN and other markets such as Australia.
Last June, Ford said it would spend US$450m on a new assembly plant in Rayong, Thailand, scheduled for completion in 2012, to help it expand in the Asia Pacific and Africa regions.
The new, flexible facility will be able to build a several different vehicles and will begin manufacturing the Focus in 2012 for both domestic and export markets. Ford also hopes to build the 3 for Mazda there as it shares the same platform.
