Tata Motors has said it will begin exporting its Thai-made pickup truck to markets across the ASEAN trade block from next year, after import duties on local automotive products are cut to zero between the trade block’s four main automotive markets in January.
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“We are committed to using Thailand as the manufacturing base to enter this regional market” Tata Motors Thailand’s chief executive Ajit Venkataraman told local reporters this week.
The trucks will be exported next year firstly to Malaysia and then Indonesia. Tata has struggled to make an impact in the Thai market, however, with pickup truck sales amounting to less than 900 units in the first ten months of 2010 – according to the monthly industry-wide wholesale data. In 2008, sales amounted to 175 units.
Mr Venkataraman said Tata will also target the region’s substantial cab-on-chassis market currently dominated by the Suzuki Carry. He said his company will soon assemble the Super Ace, to be shown at next month’s Bangkok Motor Show alongside the Nano micro-car, in Thailand for sale across ASEAN. The model is currently assembled only in India and exported in built-up form.
Tata has also signed up to Thailand’s eco-car programme, but is currently debating whether it can achieve the required minimum annual production volumes of 100,000 units to be achieved within five years of start-up.
Tony Pugliese
