Nissan to launch first eco-car in Thailand early next year

BANGKOK, Oct 1 (TNA) – Nissan Motor (Thailand) will invest 5 billion baht (US$150 million) in an eco-car project in Thailand, with the first vehicle to be unveiled in March aimed at boosting its market share from 5.7 per cent in fiscal year 2009 to 10 per cent in 2012.

Nissan Motor (Thailand) president Toru Hasegawa said here Thursday that the kingdom’s first eco-car will be unveiled at a Thailand motor show in March 2010.

The company, he said, plans to manufacture gasoline-powered 1,300 cc and diesel-powered 1,400 cc vehicles with an annual production of 200,000 units. Thailand will become Nissan’s production base for exporting the environment-friendly vehicles to Southeast Asia and worldwide.

Atchaka Sibunruang Brimble, secretary-general of Thailand’s Board of Investment (BoI), said the Nissan plan to produce ecocars in Thailand is likely to draw other automakers to invest more in Thailand. The move is also expected to restore confidence among foreign investors in the Thai government policy after it has been viewed with uncertainty for some time.

In addition, the BoI executive said, Thailand will emerge as the production base for exporting energy-saving vehicles to the world. Among incentives given to ecocar manufacturers include corporate income tax exemptions for eight years, tariff reduction on imported materials at a rate of 90 per cent for two years and excise tax reduction from 30 per cent to 17 per cent. (TNA)