General Motors Thailand has announced that it will submit an application to the Thailand Board of Investment, presenting its plans to participate in the Eco Car Phase 2 program. The announcement was made at the 35th Bangkok International Motor Show and was announced alongside the refreshed 2014 Chevy Captiva.
Eco Car Phase 2 calls for automakers to build an all-new vehicle that is fuel-efficient, environmentally friendly, safe, and low cost for sale throughout the region by the end of the decade. The vehicle should also use many locally-produced components, including powertrain parts.
“GM’s intent to develop a new Chevrolet car for production in Thailand is well aligned with the objective of the Eco Car program,” said Marcos Purty, the new managing director of GM Thailand and Chevrolet Sales Thailand. “By submitting this application, GM reaffirms its commitment to invest in Thailand and make Rayong a strategic hub for global exports. Additionally, this investment will bolster our long-term commitment to the excellent regional supplier network.”
GM will reveal more details about its participation in Eco Car Phase 2 at a later date.
The GM Authority Take
We can’t help but wonder if The General intends to develop and build an all-new vehicle specifically for Thailand (“the region”) as part of the Eco Car Phase 2 program, or if it plans on producing an existing Chevrolet model at its Rayong, Thailand plant. If it’s the latter, then we would imagine that candidates include such global vehicles as the Spark, Sonic/Aveo, and Cruze, as well as regionally-available economy cars such as the (Gamma-based) Cobalt, Onix, Agile, Prisma, Spin, or Sail. Whatever shape it takes, one thing is for sure: it will be a Chevrolet… assuming GM will end up taking part in the program.
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