A new generation of "birds of prey" is coming! Ford invested $900 million to renovate its plant in Thailand

According to Thailand's Bangkok Post on December 17, Ford Motor Company recently announced that it will invest $900 million to modernize its Thai factory to support the production of its "Raptor" pickup truck and "Road Shaker" SUV, which will be Ford's largest single investment in the country in the past 25 years.

It is reported that Ford has invested a total of $3.4 billion in Thailand. The Raptor and The Roadbreaker are Ford's most successful models built in Thailand, and the new Raptor will be launched in mid-2022, taking its intelligence, versatility and vehicle performance to a new level.

Ford said in a statement that the latest investment will be used to upgrade its own plant and the Thai Auto Union, a joint venture with Japan's Mazda. At present, Thailand is the fourth largest automobile assembly and export center in Asia, and world-class auto giants such as Toyota, Ford and Honda have set up factories here, accounting for 10% of Thailand's GDP and absorbing a large number of laborers in the country's manufacturing industry.

Ford said that this round of investment, as part of the "Ford +" growth and value creation plan, will add 1,250 new jobs to the Thai factory, which will not only make the total number of employees in Thailand exceed 9,000, but also add 1 new work shift, thereby further strengthening and enhancing Thailand's role and status as an important global production and export base.

Specifically, Ford plans to spend a fortune on 356 advanced working robots for the body and painting workshops of the two Thai factories, increasing its automation level from 34% to 80% and 69% respectively. In addition, about $400 million will be used to improve the local supply chain system, help suppliers modernize design and manufacturing through the application of new technologies and systems, improve parts quality, supply flexibility and demand response capabilities, and indirectly create more than 250 jobs.

"This (round of investment) is another important milestone in our 25-year commitment to building cars in Thailand and will strongly support the production launch of the exciting next generation of Raptor pickups," said Yukon Tong Vesakonsin, President of Ford's ASEAN and Asia Pacific markets. ”

At present, Thailand is becoming a "hot land for investment" favored by global automakers. In 2020, GM sold a factory in Rayong Province, Thailand, to China's Great Wall Motors, where it began producing SUVs and electric vehicles. As the electrification strategy accelerates, Thailand's state-owned energy company PTT also announced this year that it will invest $1 billion to $2 billion to build an electric vehicle factory in cooperation with Taiwan's Foxconn company. (Compilation/Ling Feng)