Continental opens new Thai parts plant

Germany’s Continental AG inaugurated its new automotive components plant in Thailand, although the delay in some model programmes due to the global slump in vehicle demand has forced the company to defer part of its original investment. The plant will begin production of powertrain pumps and diesel fuel injectors as scheduled. Output of instrument clusters and interior electronics will be delayed until 2011, said Thomas Chambers, managing director of Continental Automotive (Thailand). The plant will supply vehicle manufacturers in Thailand and overseas, including in India, France and other European countries. It has a production capacity of 500,000 pumps and 2.5 million injectors per year and the aim is to produce at 75% of capacity in 2010, with 70% of this output going to Thai-based manufacturers. (June 19, 2009)