Back in 1961, Mitsubishi Motors also went into Thailand to begin producing vehicles there. They went on to create three-car production plants and an engine factory in Chonburi Province. By the time Malaysia had its first national car, they had already become the first brand to export vehicles from Thailand.
By 2018, 80% of the 440,000 vehicles made in their Thai plants were being exported. Since 1988, they’ve exported a total of 4 millon vehicles from Thailand. The company employs 7,000 staff DIRECTLY with many more indirectly employed through their supply chain.
Trucks like the Triton and Pajero Sport may not be ‘national cars’, but does it matter? The Thais that build these vehicles add value to the production every step of the way.
Hats off to what the Thais and Mitsubishi have been able to accomplish for their car industry. Baby steps, hand-in-hand, but the results speak for themselves.
No, this isn’t a jab at our own car industry. It’s just a rehashed press release which you can read here!
Press Release
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) announced today that it had passed the milestone of exporting four million vehicles from Thailand, and held the ceremony at Laem Chabang, Chonburi Province. Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (MMTh), MMC’s subsidiary in Thailand, has three car production plants and an engine facility in Chonburi Province, which have become the company’s largest manufacturing center outside of Japan.
MMC started its operations in Thailand in 1961 and became the first automaker to export vehicles in 1988. Last year, it exported almost 80 percent of the 440,000 vehicles manufactured there – including knock-down units.
MMTh now employs more than 7,000 staff directly and thousands more in the supply chain.
“The ASEAN region centering on Thailand is one of the most important areas for Mitsubishi Motors,” said Osamu Masuko, chairman of MMC. “In addition to contributing to the region through businesses such as providing products that meet each country’s demands, employment, human resources development, investment as well as local production and export, we have been contributing to local societies through our corporate citizenship activities. We will continue to expand our activities in the ASEAN region to further contribute to solving social issues.”
Thailand continues to be an important hub in Mitsubishi Motors’ global operations. This milestone does not represent the end of its strategic journey, but is a point from which the company continues to grow. MMC’s commitment to Thailand remains firm and steadfast, and it will continue to strengthen its operations there as a key player in the ASEAN region, a bedrock of its business.
