Ministry told to step up on car, tyre testing centre

He made the remark yesterday during a visit to the development site in Chachoengsao province.
The premier yesterday signed a document to kick off phase 2 of the centre’s development, expected to be completed in 2022.
The premier also instructed the Industry Ministry to finish the project on schedule. 
The Cabinet approved the centre’s development on March, 2016 under a budget of Bt3.7 billion. The 
The Industry ministry then assigned Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI) to oversee the project’s development. 
The first phase involves testing of tyres under UN R117 standard while the second phase is designed for testing of vehicles and auto parts.
The centre will ensure Thai automotive makers of the country’s world standard in automotive and tyre testing, in support of carmakers and tyre producers in the kingdom. The project is part of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) development, expected to attract foreign car makers to the zone.
TISI secretary general Wanchai Phanomchai said that the centre would turn Thailand into a hub for the transfer of automotive and tyre technologies in Asean.
Construction of the Bt700-million brake performance field for the first phase is now completed. 
TISI is currently in talks with the Budget Bureau over the remaining budget of Bt3 billion for the second phase development of four other fields: the park brake field, dynamic platform, skid-pad field, and Long Distance and High Speed field.
The centre will also help increase the use of local rubbers by 150,000 tonnes annually, which in turn boosts the income of over 6 million rubber planters.
Wanchai said that the centre would shorten the current testing time by two months as both car manufacturers and tyre makers will no longer have to send their products for testing overseas.   
The centre will also draw investment for rubber- processing to the country.