Suzuki to build Swift in Thailand

Japans Suzuki will build a variant of the Swift in Thailand as its contribution to the “eco-car” scheme. The vehicle is likely to use a 1.2-liter gasoline engine incorporating improvements to enable it to achieve better fuel efficiency from the current level of 20.5 kilometers per liter (km/l). The automaker is also mulling production of the Splash model at the new Thai plant, which will begin operations around 2010. The Japanese automaker is one of six manufacturers that have signed up for the scheme. Under the criteria, automakers must build vehicles with either a gasoline engine of 1.3 liters or a diesel engine of 1.4 liters capable of achieving fuel consumption of 20 km/l. The vehicles must also conform to Euro IV standards and emit less than 120 grams of carbon dioxide (CO2) per kilometer, and must meet the safety parameters under the UNECE 94 and 95 crash regulations. In return, automakers will receive tax breaks and lower import tariffs on machinery for vehicle manufacturing. (June 6, 2008)