Thailand approves Tata truck project

BANGKOK, July 18 (Reuters) Top bus and truck maker, Tata Motors Ltd won Thai government approval on Wednesday to produce a redesigned pick-up truck in Thailand, where it has a joint venture with Thonburi Assembly.

Tata Motors (Thailand) Ltd, owned 70 percent by the Indian company, planned to invest 1.3 billion baht ( million) in the project to produce up to 35,000 1-tonne trucks a year, the state-run Board of Investment said in a statement.

It said 80 percent of the trucks, to be manufactured at Thonburi's existing assembly plant in suburban Bangkok, would be sold in the domestic market.

Tata said in March the truck, fitted with a 2.2-litre diesel engine, would be offered in several versions.

Tata, which has about 60 percent of India's bus and truck market, unveiled the pick-up at the Geneva Auto Show early this year.

The redesigned pick-up, to be built with at least 54 percent Thai content, will also be exported to Europe, Africa and Southeast Asia.

REUTERS DKS HS1737