Mitsubishi keen to expand eco project in Thailand

As “eco-car production is already in Mitsubishi’s business strategy,” said Nobuyuki Murahashi, President of Mitsubishi Motors Thailand, the Japanese automaker aims to set up Thailand as its major production center for green models.

The Board of Investment of Thailand approved the second phase of Mitsubishi’s eco-car scheme in late August (the first phase was launched in 2007), and manufacturers must submit their applications by March 2014 and commence production in 2019.

In April 2010, Mitsubishi announced it would spend US$200 million on a plant focusing on eco-car production at Laem Chabang Industrial Estate in Chon Buri. The first phase has annual production of 150,000 vehicles. In early 2012, the company invested another $25 million to increase production to 200,000 eco-cars. Murahashi expects roughly 120,000 units to be sold in Thailand this year.