Exporting since 1999 to 115 destinations Highlights company role as hub for local, regional and global consumption Continues investment in Thailand’s automotive sector and communities
Nissan recently celebrated a significant milestone for its manufacturing operations in Thailand when it reached one million car exports to key destinations worldwide. The Nissan Terra, the all-new frame-based premium SUV, was the one-millionth vehicle to roll off a Thai assembly line for export globally.
Nissan has been exporting high quality vehicles manufactured in Thailand since 1999, with the Nissan Frontier the very first model exported, to Australia. Since then, Nissan’s Thai manufacturing operations have grown to become a key manufacturing hub for Nissan in the Asia and Oceania region, producing high quality vehicles that have been driven by customers across the globe.
The Philippines, Australia, and Japan were the top three export destinations by volume for Nissan in Thailand in 2018, followed by Indonesia, Malaysia, South Africa, Vietnam, New Zealand, Dubai and Oman.
Since 1999, Nissan has significantly expanded vehicle exports from Thailand which to over 115 countries to date. This currently includes six models: the Nissan Almera, March, Navara, Sylphy, Teana and Terra. Nissan is working with some 250 companies in the automotive supply chain that employ approximately 170,000 people. In 2018, Nissan in Thailand ranked fifth among automotive companies in terms of total Thai vehicle export volume, a 19% increase over 2017.
Yutaka Sanada, senior vice president for Nissan in Asia and Oceania, addressing participants at an event at Laem Chabang port, said: “The export milestone underlines Thailand’s importance in our Nissan Intelligent Mobility vision to making safe, smart and sustainable mobility available to as many people as possible. I am particularly excited that the Nissan Terra is the one-millionth export vehicle leaving the port today. Made in and for South East Asia, the Terra has been extremely positively received from customers across the region,” Sanada said. “We will continue to invest in Thailand’s automotive ecosystem to create jobs and help drive economic growth in Thailand. We remain steadfast in bringing the benefits of Industry 4.0 to Thailand,” he added.
In his remarks at the event, Antoine Barthes, president of Nissan in Thailand, also shared with attendees his pride at the world-class quality vehicles produced in Thailand at its plants in Samut Prakan. “This export achievement would not have been possible without the passion and dedication of our more than 5,000 employees, along with the support of our countless Thai customers, dealers and suppliers.”
“Nissan’s manufacturing operations in Samut Prakan province currently have a combined production capacity of 370,000 units a year,” Barthes added.
Dr. Bonggot Anuroj, deputy secretary general of the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) said: “I offer my heartfelt congratulations to Nissan Motor Thailand for its remarkable success. It is significant that exports from our Kingdom have reached North America, Europe, Japan and Australia, among others, all of which have very high industrial standards. This helps cement Thailand as an auto export hub to the world, and enhances the competitiveness of Thailand in the global market with high-quality automobiles. The BOI will continue working with stakeholders – including automotive companies like Nissan – to continue its ongoing investment in research, development and innovation in the field of future manufacturing as well as workforce skill development.”
Nissan started production in Thailand in 1960. Since Nissan moved its manufacturing base to Samut Prakan in 1975 to meet the growing demand for Nissan cars in Thailand, the company has continued to invest in manufacturing facilities through modernization programs and technological upgrades.
In 2014, Nissan opened a second plant at Bangna-Trad KM. 22, which is the base for local and global export production of the Nissan Navara and a recognized global Center of Excellence (COE) for that pickup. In April 2015, Nissan opened its regional R&D Test Center, located next to the Samut Prakan plants.
“Nissan will continue to invest in skills development through initiative like staff skill development training at our manufacturing operations in Japan. That program was started in 2016 and, since then, 163 Thai employees have already participated,” Barthes said.
Nissan is also supporting communities across Thailand through its internship programs with 11 major Thai universities and Youth Leadership Development program, which is a partnership with the Raks Thai Foundation and CARE Japan. More than a thousand students at ten schools in three provinces, including in Samut Prakan, will participate in the youth leadership program.
Source: Nissan
