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AutoAlliance Thailand
AutoAlliance Thailand (AAT) is the name of a joint venture automobile assembly firm co-owned by Ford Motor Company and Mazda Motor Corporation in Rayong province, Thailand. Modeled after the Ford-Mazda AutoAlliance International joint venture in the United States, AAT builds compact pickup trucks and SUVs primarily for the South-East Asian market, with exports to other developing markets, and Europe as well.
The factory in Thailand is designed to be similar to Mazda's Hofu plant, and is arranged as four squares.
History
Ford's sales in Thailand began in 1913 with the Model T, but it was only in 1961 that Ford began construction there. Anglo-Thai Motors Company, Ford’s distributor, announced in 1960 that it would build a factory in the country, with Thai Motor Company the result. This was the first time automobiles had been built in Thailand.
Ford brought Thai Motor under the corporate umbrella in 1973, but closed the factory just three years later. Company presence returned in 1985 with the formation of New Era Company to push Mazda-designed cars and trucks in the country.
Construction on the new AutoAlliance plant began on November 28, 1995, and the plant began mass production on May 29, 1998. The grand opening ceremony on July 1, 1998, included Chuan Leekpai, prime minister of Thailand.
Products
- Current:
- July 1998-present Ford Ranger/Mazda Fighter/B-Series (Mazda-based pickup truck)
- April 2003-present Ford Everest (Ranger-based SUV)
- Past:
- Jan 2000-Oct 2001 Ford Laser/Mazda 323 Protégé
