Isuzu has finished its third pickup plant in Thailand, adding 30% to its capacity in the country and taking annual production to 400,000 units. Thailand is Isuzu’s global production base for pickups.

The new plant is the second to be built at Isuzu’s Gateway complex in the east of the country. The other plant is at Samrong, also in eastern Thailand.

Annual capacity at the new facility is 90,000 units. It will build the D-Max, Isuzu’s major competitor in the one-tonne pickup market; the model is exported to about 100 countries.

Isuzu president Susumu Hosoi said in Bangkok that, although the global auto market was in dire straits, Southeast Asia had seen strong sales.

“We will continue to strengthen our operations in Thailand,” he said.