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Martin Apfel, president of General Motors' Thailand/Southeast Asia operations Thailand makes news in the US: Half a world away from the cold streets of Michigan, General Motors (GM.N) is getting ready to roll its first diesel engine out of a recently opened factory in eastern Thailand. Nearby, Ford Motor (F.N) is building a manufacturing plant and Suzuki Motor (7269.T) aims to start producing environmentally friendly cars at a new factory in 2012. Welcome to the "Detroit of Asia", a vast area 120 km (75 miles) east of Bangkok, where durian orchards have given way to car plants over the past decade and vehicles are made for export to more than 200 countries. While facing increasing competition as an auto manufacturing hub from countries including India, China and Indonesia, Thailand looks likely to retain its dominant position and win more investment thanks to its low wage costs and strong infrastructure

Indian parts firms eye FTA potential' Indian auto-parts makers and renewable-energy firms are looking to Thailand as an investment hub for Southeast Asia because of the privileges offered under the Asean-India free-trade agreement, says India's largest industrial group. Bhaskar Sarkar, executive director and secretary of EEPC India, said Thailand was the most attractive Asean destination and investors want to capitalise on the upcoming Asean Economic Community single market in 2015.

Lenso's lightweight alloys Lenso Wheel, the distributor of Lenso and Raiden wheels, plans to spend more than Bt50 million on marketing events and advertising this year to help boost its sales. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/main/2011/02/17/lifestyle/Lensos-lightweight-alloys-30148859.html Sent from my iPad

Amata to co-invest in Chinese meter-makers' Thai expansion Amata Corp has agreed with China-based Holley Group that the companies will co-invest about Bt2 billion in expanding the meter-maker's business in Thailand. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2011/03/01/business/Amata-to-co-invest-in-Chinese-meter-makers-Thai-ex-30149794.html Sent from my iPad

Check out the new section " Automotive Newsletters ". First entry is L&P's Newsletter #131, February 2011: New investment promotion for sustainable development makes high tech machinery more competitive in Thailand.

Bangkok Post: Seacon Square and Vintage Bike Thailand are displaying a collection of more than 100 vintage bikes at the 2 Wheels Story fair, which takes place in Seacon Square from Thursday to Sunday, March 6, 10:30am-9pm.

Bangkok Post: Indian auto-parts makers and renewable-energy firms are looking to Thailand as an investment hub for Southeast Asia because of the privileges offered under the Asean-India free-trade agreement, says India's largest industrial group. Bhaskar Sarkar, executive director and secretary of EEPC India, said Thailand was the most attractive Asean destination and investors want to capitalise on the upcoming Asean Economic Community single market in 2015.

Thanks to Graeme Sheard, KPMG for his interesting  presentation  on the development of the tax situation in Thailand and ASEAN at the Holiday Inn. Presented by Graeme Sheard, KPMG Tax Partner Here is Doc Iain Corness article for Pattaya Mail: The Automotive Focus Group (AFG) invited Graeme Sheard from KPMG to address the group at the latest meeting last week, held in the Holiday Inn. The buzz words for KPMG are “cutting through complexity”, and corporate taxation is certainly complex, though Graeme Sheard did manage to show where the tunnel was, and the faint flicker of light at the end of it. With KPMG being a very large conglomerate, they have been able to carry out annual surveys and then extrapolate the results into trends.  For the automotive industry, the prediction is that it will be quite different by the next decade with mobility solutions to counter traffic problems – perhaps you will not need to ‘own’ a car, but just pick up and drop off in the cities.  Th...

Photograph: Peter Richards Thanks to Mike Diamente (DANA) and Ray d'Silva (BOSCH Chassis Systems) for their leadership over the last years!  The new committee will try hard to fill the footsteps…. AFG 2011 Committee Positions: President: James Beeson Vice President: Peera Thaweechart Secretary and Treasurer: Maurice Bromley (the Bully) Web and Blog:  Uli Kaiser The entire AFG committee consists of: Maurice Bromley (Go-Dove), Armin Walter (EFTEC), Frank Holzer (GM), James Beeson (Ultimate G), Peera Thaweechart (Albatross) , Randy Simmons (Inductotherm), Shaun Burke (Cromwell Tools) & Uli Kaiser (EMAG Group). The  ex officio  members are:  George T. Strampp (AMS Automotive Manufacturing Solutions) and  Leigh Wilmott (Austrade)   Also check out the PDN article about the meeting  here .

Remarks for Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva at Governors Session : “Thailand and the Global Automotive Industry” at World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2011, Friday 28 January 2011, 11.00-12.00 hrs. Congress Centre, Davos-Klosters, Switzerland

The positive momentum in the economy that ushered in 2010 was sustained throughout the year as Thailand moved from economic contraction in 2009 to a full year growth of near 8 percent. In fact, several data points hit all time highs last year making it one of the best years for economic growth in the nation’s history and recalling the times of rapid growth just a couple of decades back.

BMW's inline-six petrol engine could be a thing of the past in Thailand - should the current excise tax regime remain in place. Currently, engines displacing less than 2,000cc are subject to 30% excise tax (25% and 22% for E20 and E85 capabilities, respectively), while those sized between 2,500-3,000cc face 40% (35% and 32% accordingly). This 10% difference in excise tax can bring down the prices of BMW's luxury cars by as much as half-a-million baht, according current pricing trends. Check out the Bangkok Post article here

Toyota, Thailand's biggest automaker, reiterated yesterday it strongly opposed revamping the excise tax structure on the one-ton pickup truck and its variants. "Toyota along with Isuzu and Mitsubishi disagrees with the tax restructuring that will add production costs to pickups and its variants, as these autos are performing well at the moment in both domestic and overseas markets," said Toyota Motor Thailand president Kyoichi Tanada.

Thailand's automobile production jumped 40.81 per cent year-on-year in January to reach 146,234 units, spurred on by exports and a healthy domestic economy, industry sources said Thursday.

Check out the Thai Customs Department web site for info on "Rules of Origin" based on which Thailand extends preferential tariff rates to specified countries.

Amata Corporation Plc, Thailand's largest industrial estate operator, foresees healthier growth prospects this year, thanks to the boom in the automotive industry, says director and chief operating officer Viboon Kromadit. "Last year was one of the golden years due to an increase in automotive production to an estimated 1.65 million units," he said, adding that 2011 output could exceed forecasts of 1.8 million units because the country's strong production base meant manufacturers would not move operations elsewhere.