New plant to be Ford's Focus

The strategy is designed to emphasise the company’s plan to invest here further as one of its major manufacturing centres in Asia along with India and China. 

Joe Hinrichs, president of Ford Asia Pacific and Africa, said yesterday that the company was stepping up its production of new passenger-car models in Thailand. Its new US$450-million (Bt15 billion) facility in Rayong will manufacture the EcoSport compact SUV, designed on the same fundamentals as Ford’s passenger cars such as the Fiesta. 

In addition, the company will start producing an all-new Ford Focus at the new plant.

The EcoSport is one of eight new Ford models to be produced for the Asean market. The company will officially unveil the all-new Ford Focus in Thailand during the 33rd Bangkok International Motor Show to be held from tomorrow to April 8.

After meeting with Industry Minister Pongsvas Svasti, Peter Fleet, president of Ford Asean, said the company had informed the minister that its new plant would officially begin operating on May 3. So far, Ford has combined investment of more than $2.5 billion in Thailand, including its first plant and the second one in Rayong.

“We want to encourage Thailand to become the 10th-largest car manufacturer in the world from No 12 now,” Fleet said.

He accepts that Ford is also focused on Indonesia, a market with much growth potential given its 200-million population. However, Thailand is still ranked as one of the company’s major manufacturing bases in Asia thanks to its good supply chain.

It is forecast that total global car sales will increase from 74 million last year to 100 million this year. Ford’s sales in the Asia-Pacific region and Africa accounted for 830,000 units, one-sixth of the company’s global sales. The company predicts that sales in these regions will increase by one-third by 2020.