Mazda Motor Corporation's joint venture company Auto Alliance (Thailand) Company Limited recently began a trial run of its new facilities at the Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate in Rayong Province.

The trial plant operation, which initially included the stamping. body assembly and paint shops followed by the final assembly line

The plant, built to manufacture pick-up trucks, is scheduled to begin mass production of compact pick-up trucks in mid- 1998.

Trial runs designed to train new employees and fine tune the plant will now continue until mass production begins.

Construction of the plant began in February 1996 at the Eastern Seaboard lndustrial Estate and the installation of equipment and tooling began in February 1997.

Local employee recruitment started in January 1996 and the number of on-site employees hired in Thailand is currently 402.

About 190 of these new employees have received extensive training at Mazda's Hiroshima plant including auto-manufacturing technology, factory management methods, and production systems The length of the programmes vary from three months to a year.

Company Outline

Company Name: Auto Alliance (Thailand) Company Limited