While we wait anxiously for the extremely delayed National Automotive Policy to be released, it has been revealed that Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand) has exported more than 4 million vehicles from the three car production facilities it operates in the Chonburi province. These facilities, including another engine facility in the same area, makes it the largest manufacturing centre by Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) outside Japan.

MMC started operating in Thailand in 1961 and became the first automaker in the country to export vehicles in 1988. Based on last year’s production, almost 80 per cent of the 440,000 vehicles manufactured there were exported (roughly 352,000 units). Currently, Mitsubishi Motors Thailand employs more than 7,000 staffs, on top of the thousands who are employed within the supply chain.

"The ASEAN region centring on Thailand is one of the important areas for Mitsubishi Motors," said Osamu Masuko, chairman of MMC. "In addition to contributing to the region through businesses such as providing products that meet each country's demands, employment, human resources development, investment as well as local production and export, we have been contributing to local societies through our corporate citizenship activities. We will continue to expand our activities in the ASEAN region to further contribute to solving social issues."

Mitsubishi’s main export model from the factory in Laem Chabang, Chonburi Province is naturally the Triton truck, which also finds its way to Malaysia. The Mitsubishi Motors Thailand factories serve as MMC’s export hub to over 120 countries.