Japan, Toyota eye Thailand as R&D, manufacturing hub

By The Nation

 

Suriya Juangroongruangkit (Right)

 

Industry Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit was recently in Japan to discuss business and investment opportunities with existing and future partners, including Toyota Motors, which aims to produce 5.5 million automobiles in Thailand by 2025.

 

After signing a memorandum of understanding with the Japan-Thailand Economics Corporation Society (JTECS) and Toyota Motors Co Ltd, Suriya said his ministry will use this agreement to boost the production of automobiles and improve the robotic industry in Thailand.

 

“This MoU will bring us closer to the Thailand 4.0 target,” he said. “We also aim to establish 1,400 system integrators within four years to facilitate hardware and software needs of corporate clients.”

 

Suriya added that Toyota was also planning to make Thailand a research-and-development hub for the Asia-Pacific region.

 

“As a major partner in this MoU, Toyota will bring state-of-the-art technology to manufacturing bases in Thailand, which will boost production capacity to over 750,000 units annually,” the minister added.

 

Meanwhile Toyota chairman Takeshi Uchiyamada said his company is currently beefing production facilities in Thailand, aiming to build over 5 million units by 2025.

 

“Within this target, 500,000 will be electric vehicles [EV], while the rest will be plug-in hybrid electric vehicles [PHEV],” he said. “We are emphasising on PHEVs since pure EVs still have many limitations, such as higher price batteries and total reliance on charging stations, which are not comprehensive enough in many areas.”

 

The industry minister also discussed investment opportunities in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) with Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).

 

“Minister Isshu Sugawara‎ told me that Japan is interested in infrastructure projects such as high-speed train and manufacturing bases for robotics and high-tech industries,” said Suriya. “METI will also coordinate with its partners to bring Japanese investors to Thailand to explore EEC’s readiness and business opportunities.”

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30376906

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2019-10-01

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Thanks to native pot holes the size of Moon craters, it's a perfect test ground for new 4x4 models.

1 hour ago, webfact said:

After signing a memorandum of understanding with the Japan-Thailand Economics Corporation Society (JTECS) and Toyota Motors Co Ltd

The Thais are MoU experts.

New hub.

Hub of Memorandums of Understanding.

Hub of caps with 5.5m motors 22m to be precise ????

Edited September 30, 20196 yr by sammieuk1

1 hour ago, webfact said:

“Minister Isshu Sugawara‎ told me that Japan is interested in infrastructure projects such as high-speed train

Except their bid will be expensive as you pay for quality,

2 hours ago, webfact said:

 

Minister Isshu Sugawara‎ told me that Japan is interested in infrastructure projects such as high-speed train........

If they are interested in HS train projects why did they pull the pin on the Bangkok to Chiang Mai route project and tell Thailand they could do it themselves and they weren't interested in sharing their technology.

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/japan-rejects-calls-to-invest-in-thailands-bullet-train

 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

“METI will also coordinate with its partners to bring Japanese investors to Thailand to explore EEC’s readiness and business opportunities.”

Japan has already explored the opportunities within the EEC and concluded there is insufficient skilled labour. 

https://www.nationthailand.com/business/30375093

 

There seems to be more than a wiff of BS about this story.

3 hours ago, webfact said:

  .... " aiming to build over 5 million units by 2025.

“Within this target, 500,000 will be electric vehicles [EV], while the rest will be plug-in hybrid electric vehicles [PHEV]"

10% pure electric , the rest hybrid ... ? Will diesel engines not be manufactured any more ...? The average Thai driver will not like this .

Due to not enough charging stations around , hybrid may be the right way to go ... but diesel will still be around for a long time , I do not see heavy trucks and buses going hybrid .

How many Thai workers does it take to service a single customer?  Twelve at Thaiwatsadu.  The powers that be should research these numbers and discuss why this customer came away empty-handed. 

They are interested in high speed rail, but have no interest in investing the money in those projects, which is a reasonable position for them to take. What they are saying is Thailand needs to get its act together and improve their infrastructure. A 60 year old rail system is not acceptable. Get it together guys! Man up. Look towards the future. 

 

Japan already has over 7,000 companies operating and manufacturing here. All they are talking about is expanding production. Manufacturing electric cars and hybrids here is a good thing. A big improvement over those horrendous diesel monsters that are fouling the air quality. 

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Suriya added that Toyota was also planning to make Thailand a research-and-development hub for the Asia-Pacific region.

“As a major partner in this MoU, Toyota will bring state-of-the-art technology to manufacturing bases in Thailand, which will boost production capacity to over 750,000 units annually,” the minister added.

Meanwhile in another conversation he said:

Suriya said Nakano saw that Thailand could not provide a sufficient workforce for the various industries and that workers could not communicate in English. The JCC president also expressed concern about the daily minimum wage in Thailand, which is higher than other Asean countries

Japanese are not stupid and do not forget easy. Junta ~ Toyota Prius and say no more. 

6 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Manufacturing electric cars

impossible to sell in Thailand;
the thailand driver needs the shift lever to feel "man".

3 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Meanwhile in another conversation he said:

Suriya said Nakano saw that Thailand could not provide a sufficient workforce for the various industries and that workers could not communicate in English. The JCC president also expressed concern about the daily minimum wage in Thailand, which is higher than other Asean countries

Moreover, it is not for nothing that Toyota is investing heavily in Myanmar.

MoU by any other name is just wishful thinking.  I could have a MoU with my wife regarding me making woopy with her every night till I am 87....but things can change! 

MoU's, also known as the minutes of the annual Yes man meetings. Basically worthless. 

17 hours ago, nobodysfriend said:

... but diesel will still be around for a long time , I do not see heavy trucks and buses going hybrid .

but on the other hand we can see them frequently going into the ditch