Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announced October 21 that, as part of its effort to further popularize hybrid vehicles worldwide, it plans to produce the Prius at Toyota Motor Thailand Company Ltd. (TMT), TMC's vehicle-production base in Thailand. Production is due to commence at TMT's Gateway Plant in November.
Consumer interest in the environment and new technologies has been growing in Thailand, and the introduction of the Prius here follows the start of Thai production and sales of the Camry Hybrid sedan in 2009. To mark the announcement, TMT president Kyoichi Tanada said: "With its excellent environmental performance, design and advanced technologies, we hope the Prius provides even more people in Thailand with the joys of driving."
The Prius, launched in 1997, topped cumulative global sales of 2 million units at the end of September this year. Aiming to globally sell 1 million or more hybrid vehicles annually as early as possible in the 2010s, Toyota is working to expand its hybrid-vehicle production, sales and service structure.
Toyota, under its founding philosophy of contributing to society through the manufacture of automobiles, will continue to strive to produce vehicles that meet consumers' needs.
| Outline of TMT |
| Company name | Toyota Motor Thailand Co., Ltd. | ||
| Established | 1962 | ||
| President | Kyoichi Tanada | ||
| Equity participation | Toyota Motor Corporation: 86.4%; The Siam Cement Public Company Ltd.: 10.0%; others: 3.6% | ||
| Plant name |
Samrong Plant
|
Gateway Plant
|
Ban Pho Plant
|
| Location | Samutprakarn Province (approx. 15 km south of Bangkok) | Chachoengsao Province (approx. 110 km southeast of Bangkok) |
Chachoengsao Province (approx. 65 km southeast of Bangkok) |
| Product lineup | Hilux | Camry, Camry Hybrid, Corolla, Vios, Wish, Yaris and Prius (from end of November 2010) | Hilux and Fortuner |
| Number of employees | Approx. 14,800 (as of September 2010) | ||
| 2009 production results | 435,000 units | ||