Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announces that Toyota Motor Thailand Co., Ltd. (TMT), its vehicle manufacturing and distribution subsidiary in Thailand, held a ceremony today in Bangkok, Thailand to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
Approximately 1,800 people attended the ceremony including Thailand Deputy Prime Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong and other Thai government representatives, as well as representatives from local suppliers and dealers. Representatives from Toyota included TMC President Akio Toyoda and TMT President Kyoichi Tanada.
At the ceremony, Toyoda expressed his gratitude by saying: “I am … extremely delighted to once again see everyone’s smiling faces, which are the symbol of Thailand, the ‘Land of Smiles’.” Commending the Thai people on their tenacity in the face of last year’s floods, he said: “During Toyota’s first fifty years in Thailand, every difficulty we faced was a lesson from which we learned a lot.” These difficulties “strengthened my resolve for global Toyota to continue growing with Thailand”, he said.
Also in his speech, Toyoda highlighted Toyota’s plans to display a new compact car at the Bangkok International Motor Show in March 2013 and to also start production of the car in 2013 in Thailand for domestic sale and global export. Toyoda also stated Toyota’s plan for total Toyota production in Thailand to reach as many as 1 million vehicles a year in the near future.
TMT also marked the anniversary by announcing their donation toward the founding of a new automotive technology curriculum at the Chitralada School in line with their aim for the further development of human resources in Thailand.
TMC established Toyota Motor Thailand in 1962, with assembly of the “Dyna” commercial truck and “Corona” sedan beginning at Samrong Plant in 1964. In 1996, Gateway Plant was established for passenger vehicle production. In 2004, production of the Innovative International Multi-purpose Vehicle* (IMV) series, which includes the “Hilux” pickup truck and “Fortuner” SUV, began at Samrong Plant. In 2007, Ban Pho Plant was established as a global supply base for IMV vehicles, with it supplying approximately 100 countries and regions.
Toyota will continue to strive to provide ever-better cars that exceed expectations, and in doing so, earn the smiles of customers while contributing to the creation of better communities and societies.
