Ford Motor yesterday remained vague on what was behind its pending decision on the possible cancellation of a new Bt20-billion auto plant project in Thailand.
The US company refused to clarify the points of concern that could lead it to relocate the plant elsewhere in Asia-Pacific.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Ford had threatened to move the plant if the government could not resolve the Map Ta Phut impasse.
An auto industry insider said Ford is afraid of possible entangled in environmental conflicts in the future, as the new assembly plant would be located in Rayong, the centre of the controversy over industrial pollution.
It is afraid local authorities might not welcome the plant, which would be situated next to the existing plant operated by its AutoAlliance Thailand (AAT) joint venture with Mazda.
An auto plant is not on the list of industrial activities subject to strict environmental control, however.
Rayong Governor Sayumporn Limthai said he would find out if there were any local resistance to the new plant. So far, he has not heard of any.
Ford last year won Board of Investment tax privileges for the passenger-car plant.
BoI deputy secretary-general Ajarin Pattanapanchai said the agency had so far not received any confirmation from the company on the relocation.
Ford simply issued the following statement that no conclusion had been reached as yet.
"As part of our continuing strategy to further expand operations in the Asia-Pacific region, we have been involved in discussions with the Thai government regarding a potential new investment by Ford Motor Company in Thailand. However, these are ongoing assessments and a number of related factors must still come together before any decisions could be considered.
"It is Ford Motor Company's policy that our operations, products and services should accomplish their functions in a manner that responsibly protects health and the environment. Regardless of location, Ford strictly complies with our own international standards for health and environment, which meet or exceed all regulatory requirements that apply to our business worldwide."
Meanwhile, AAT, whose workers' union is seeking government help to end a labour conflict, also issued a statement, saying it will conduct the 21st round of negotiations today, with the Rayong authorities and Central Labour Office as the intermediaries.
It said the union had tried to send out misleading information and that the company lock-out, effective on January 1, was necessary to ensure the safety of its employees, customers and products.
"This lock-out was in response to extraordinary acts of sabotage at our manufacturing facility in Rayong. The company believes the acts of sabotage, which coincided with the onset of negotiations with the union, were the work of a small minority of employees … The offer from AAT management is both fair and very competitive, and among the industry's most well-paid," AAT said in the statement.
