Ford keeps focus on sales

Saroj Kiatfuengfoo, senior vice president of Ford Thailand, yesterday said the company would officially launch the Focus - with a Duratorq turbo-diesel commonrail (TDCi) 4 engine - at the expo, which runs from November 29 to December 10 at Impact Challenger, Muang Thong Thani.

"Following the introduction, Ford targets selling 20 cars a month, or more than 200 for the full year," said Saroj.

He said Ford might later launch a model with an E85-fuelled engine into the Thai market. However, this will depend on the government having a policy to support clean-energy cars.

He added that the policy of reducing excise duty by 5 percentage points for E20-compatible vehicles had been good for the sector, as it meant car prices could be brought down.

Despite the slowdown, Saroj insisted there would be no lay-offs in connection with Auto Alliance (Thailand)'s assembly of the Ford Laser and the Mazda 323. Auto Alliance (Thailand) is a Ford joint venture with Mazda and other local partners, formed in March 2000.

Annual capacity of the two vehicles is planned for 130,000 units, comprising 100,000 assembled vehicles for sale in Thailand and other Asia-Pacific markets outside North America, plus 30,000 component kits for export to other assembly locations.

He said Ford had a well-established plan for its dealers in terms of reducing stock-in-hand.

Although Ford's sales in Thailand have dropped this year, the company has not yet arrived at a combined figure for sales from the 139 other countries to which it sells.