Yokohama-based Nissan Motor Thailand is devising a new business plan for 2021 after it upgraded a local production line with a 10-billion-baht investment, following an earlier decision to end production of three car models here.
The plan, which is scheduled to finish within December, will focus on production of new car models, including electric vehicles, for domestic sale and export as well as marketing strategies.
"Our work on the plan is in progress," said president Ramesh Narasimhan yesterday without giving further details.
He was speaking as the company launched a new pickup model.
Mr Narasimhan said Nissan has no plan to expand production capacity because it recently upgraded manufacturing plants in Samut Prakan after relocating production facilities from Indonesia to Thailand.
Nissan decided to spend 10 billion baht improving its manufacturing systems for new car models as well as increasing work efficiency.
"This budget includes everything we need," he said.
Nissan Motor Thailand earlier announced a plan to hire over 2,000 new workers as the company seeks to shore up its last remaining large-scale production base in Asean.
The company operates two plants, with a total capacity of 250,000 units a year, in Samut Prakan.
Nissan recorded car sales of 33,000 units in Thailand from January to September this year.
Mr Narasimhan said he is optimistic about a better domestic economy after the government eased lockdown measures and allowed certain groups of foreign tourists to enter Thailand.
However, new Covid-19 outbreaks are still a wild card that may deal another blow to the economy, he said.
Ashwani Gupta, Nissan's chief operation officer, said the newly launched car model is a Nissan Navara pickup.
"We packaged the new model with a full set of advanced technology to ensure enhanced performance on and off-road," he said.