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BANGKOK, THAILAND -- 03/29/10 -- Thailand expects its auto parts industry to grow as demand for vehicles and auto parts increase in South East Asia.

Local auto-parts manufacturers are being forced out of business by increased competition from free-trade agreements including the Asean Free Trade Area. Fewer than 10% of local first-tier parts suppliers are wholly owned Thai companies at present compared with 80% a decade ago, said Prasartsilp On-Aht, president of the Thai Auto-Parts Manufacturers Association. "The only competitive advantage of the Thai auto-parts industry is skilled labour. The country lacks raw materials and technological know-how," said Mr Prasartsilp.

Thailand's automotive production rose 109.36 per cent on year in February, at the number of 127,849 units, according to the Federation of Thai Industries' Automotive Industry Club.

Via Jim Beeson:  Interesting report across all industries with good information about the state of the Automotive Industry….check it out

Mitsubishi Motors Corp., Japan's sixth-largest automaker, plans to increase production at a plant in Thailand this month to meet growing demand for its vehicles in Asia. The carmaker will add a shift at the plant, which makes cars including Pajero Sport SUVs and Triton pickup trucks, it said in a faxed statement today. It will add 1,300 workers at the factory, it said. Mitsubishi Motors made 5,603 vehicles with one shift at the factory in July, company spokesman Yuuki Murata said. The company didn't disclose how much it will increase production.

The launch of Nissan's new sub-B car next week marks yet another milestone in the history of Thai automotive industry.

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