Bangkok--21 Mar--Mitsubishi Motors
Mr. Osamu Masuko, President of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation Japan expressed his gladness in the Mitsubishi Motors Thailand 2 Million cars Export to the World celebration that “Since the year of 1988, Mitsubishi Motors decided to invest for vehicle production plant in Thailand and became the first automaker that export the Thai-made vehicle to worldwide, we registered the first chapter export history of Thailand automotive industry on January 10th, 1988 by exporting Lancer Champ 420 units to Canada. Lately in February 2013 we have just registered another chapter by celebration the 2 millions exporting all models Thai-made Mitsubishi Cars to the world. These reflect the global standard and high quality vehicle production which made Mitsubishi Motors Corporation decide to strengthen Research & Development function in Thailand. Research &Development in Thailand has following three pillars; first pillar is to further improve quality of vehicles produced in Thailand by swiftly reflecting the needs of local markets. Second pillar is to take a wider scope of roles in minor changes of the models produced in Thailand by improving the level of local procurement. Third pillar is to investigate the market trend and technology in ASEAN market. This organizational reinforcement shall lead to partial transfer of the R&D function from Mitsubishi Motors to Mitsubishi Motors Thailand, and the total number of Thai staffs and Japanese expats working for R&D division is planned to increase from current 40 to 120. We also have a plan to enhance the R&D facilities including test course.”
Mitsubishi Motors Thailand has just achieved exported the Thai-made vehicle to worldwide for 2 millions units in late February, both Completed Build Unit (CBU) and Completed Knock-down Unit (CKD). The 1.7 Millions CBU include passenger car (Lancer, Mirage) 95,726 units, 1 Ton Pickup (Strada, L200, Triton) 1,436,146 units and PPV (Pajero Sport) 181,464 units, while the CKD is about 300,000 sets. The CBU mainly exported to ASEAN country, Middle East, Europe, Africa and Australia while the CKD mainly exported to Latin America which most is pickup.
“Throughout the 25 years that MMTh has exported Mitsubishi vehicles to more than 140 countries worldwide, the production standard and Thai technician skill are accepted and trusted. In Japan, which located the mother company, we also import Mitsubishi Mirage and receive the good response from Japanese customers. One of the key success factors is the Thai government’s vision on automotive industry such as the investment privilege measurement by BOI, the first product champion; Pickup project as well as the Eco Car project as the second product champion. These measurements enhance Mitsubishi Motors achievement to produce 2 Millions units for export and another Million-unit for domestic market. I would like to express my gratitude and thank you on these supports. We believe to achieve next million milestone nearly soon. At present time, we have 3 production plants and 1 engine plant in Leam Chabang Industrial Estate in Chonburi, Thailand, which is the first priority business unit outside Japan with 460,000 unit capacity annually. It is the second after Mizushima Plant in Japan but MMTh is the No.1 production utilization among all Mitsubishi Plants. I am honor being here to congratulate and thank you to the fully contribution of Thai employees for the passing and coming period.” Mr. Masuko added.
Lately in Year 2012, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation Japan invested 16 billion Baht to establish its third production plants in Thailand to produce small car regarding ‘Global Small project’. This project is also in line with ‘Eco Car project’ by Thai Government therefore Mitsubishi Motors start the production of Mitsubishi Mirage with the initial capacity at 150,000 units annually and plan to expand the capacity at 200,000 units annually within FY2013 and let Thailand as the production hub for small car. The policy to strengthen R&D in Thailand shows the high level confident which MMC give to MMTh and Thai engineering team. This is the first R&D branch in Asia.
Information about MMTh Production in Thailand
Information F#1 F#2 F#3 MEC
Established 1992 1996 2012 2008
Investment n/a n/a 1.6 billion Bt* n/a
Space (m2) 242,000 244,000 65,000
Capacity 90 K 220 K 150 K 362 K
Employment** 1,607 3,511 1,974 897
Product Lancer EX, Pajero Sport Triton, Pajero Sport Mirage Engine (Diesel and Benzyl)
* F3 investment in 2010: (1) Factory Construction 10 Billion Bt (27 Billion Yen)
(2) Vehicle-related (R&D, etc.) 6 Billion Bt (18 Billion Yen)
** Employment : both permanent and temporary employment , if included Head Office the total number will be xxx as of xxx
Mitsubishi Motors Thailand Key Milestone
1961 Sittipol Motor Co., Ltd. (SMC), was established and authorized as sole distributor
of Mitsubishi three- wheel “Leo’ and early-stage ‘Colt’ models.
1964 United Development Motor Industry Co., Ltd. (UDMI), assembler, was found.
1987 SMC and UDMI united as ‘MMC Sittipol Co., Ltd. (MSC), resulting in better
cooperation and bolstering the company’s position on future international projects.
1988 Started export of ‘Mitsubishi Lancer Champ’ to Canada as the first automobile
export from Thailand
1992 Inauguration of Factory at Leam Chabang Industrial Estate
1996 Inauguration of Laem Chabang Factory#2 and concentrate production of 1 ton pick
up truck
2003 Changed company name to “Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand) Co., Ltd.” (MMTh)
2007 Celebrate the Pickup truck 1 Million units exported
2008 Established MEC; the new engine factory at Leam Chabang Industrial Estate,
Chonburi
2010 Celebrate the all-model 2 Million unit production
2012 Open the 3rd factory for Mirage Eco Car Production
2013 Celebrate the all-model 2 Million unit exported