Mitsubishi Motors Thailand opens THB 3 billion Laem Chabang paint facility powered by world-class, eco-friendly technologies

CHONBURI — March 16, 2022: Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand) Co., Ltd. continues to advance its manufacturing capabilities as it opened a world-class paint factory in Laem Chabang, Chonburi. The new facility is designed to offer best-quality automotive paintwork through innovative and environment-friendly technologies for export and domestic markets which benefits all customers. This latest development strengthens the company’s commitment to support Thailand’s carbon-neutral and sustainability ambitions as well as to fulfill Mitsubishi Motors Corporation’s Environmental Vision 2050 where it seeks to reduce carbon emissions, promote resource recycling, and prevent pollution.

Joining the grand opening ceremony and the paint factory’s tour are Mr. Suriya Jungrungreangkit, Thailand’s Minister of Industry; H.E. Mr. NASHIDA Kazuya, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan; Mr. Niti Wiwatwanich, Vice Governor of Chonburi Province, Mr. Takao Kato, Representative Executive Officer for the President and CEO of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation; Mr. Mitsunori Kitao, Executive Officer - Production of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation; and Mr. Eiichi Koito, President and CEO of Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

The Laem Chabang paint factory is powered by cutting-edge technologies to ensure the highest quality of paint process where the complicated and deep paint areas are required such as sealer automation, robots and electrostatic spray gun. Customers can enjoy their vehicles with desirable

paint quality. The latest facility has been well-designed to optimize its operations with an aim to reduce pollution, minimize waste, maximize resource efficiency, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through many painting processes including cartridge paint system, the regenerative thermal oxidation and waterborne technology. Every step of the production, they can significantly reduce up to 50% of volatile organic compounds (VoCs) to the environment. The wastewater treatment plant also allows for water recycling and reduces wastewater discharge by 50%.

Mr. Suriya Jungrungreangkit, Thailand’s Minister of Industry, said: “I believe that everyone has realized the importance of sustainability. For the manufacturing sector the economic growth is vital. However, strengthening the economy should be done along with environmental consciousness. We have to balance these different angles. Therefore, the government promotes BCG model, which consists of Bio-Circular-Green economy, in order to lead a sustainable growth of Thailand. The current Thai government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha, has announced that Thailand is targeting to achieve carbon neutrality goal by 2050 and net zero emission by 2065. For this reason, the investment in EV which utilizes clean energy will be a significant part for Thailand achievement. Thailand would like to welcome more investment in green and clean manufacturing. The Ministry of Industry provides best effort to support and encourage private sectors to enhance their technologies and innovations aiming to reduce negative impacts on the environment. Our goal is to move Thai industry towards a greener era.”

The new paint factory is part of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation’s efforts to create a sustainable and carbon-free society globally for the next 30 years through its Environmental Plan Package, which seeks to promote energy conservation and the use of renewable energy as well as reduce carbon dioxide emissions from its business activities by 40%.

Mr. Takao Kato, Representative Executive Officer for the President and CEO of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation said: “At Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, we focus on producing premium, high-quality vehicles. The opening of the new paint factory in Laem Chabang today is also in alignment with Mitsubishi Motors’ Mid-Term Business Plan from 2020 to 2022 to prioritize Thailand and Southeast Asian countries as an important region. In addition to the company's regional and global expansion, the Mid-Term Business Plan also to transform our business towards a sustainable future and create sustainable growth of the automotive industry in Thailand and the region.”

At present, the Laem Chabang facility has an annual production capacity with more than 400,000 units and make five models — Mitsubishi Triton, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, Mitsubishi Mirage, Mitsubishi Attrage and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Among them, the Outlander PHEV, Triton and Pajero Sport will be painted in the new paint facility.

Mr. Eiichi Koito, President and CEO of Mitsubishi Motors Thailand said: “As one of Thailand’s leading automotive manufacturers and exporters, we are committed to producing and selling a range of vehicles that come with eco-friendliness, high quality, great performance, safety, comfort developed by our technologies. The new paint factory is the largest part of investment for automotive manufactory, and we have invested 3 billion baht for this new factory. This is our long-term commitment to produce and deliver vehicles with the world-class paint quality here in Thailand. At the paint factory, we have adopted the solar energy as an alternative source. With the generating capacity of 2 megawatts, it can help our production facility reduce about 1,700 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. These new solar panels combined with the solar panels that have already been installed at the production facility can together reduce up to 6,100 tons of carbon emissions every year.”

“In addition to its new paint facility, Mitsubishi Motors Thailand will continue to take steps to reduce CO2 emissions in the country and develop initiatives that are in line with Mitsubishi Motors Corporation’s sustainability direction through our eco-friendly but high performance vehicle such as Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, solar energy utilization at our production facility and relevant CSR programs such as 60 Rai reforestation project and the solar panel donation project to the rural hospitals named, Solar for Lives,” Mr. Koito added.

Mitsubishi Motors Thailand has five factories in the country. Today, there are more than 6,200 Thai employees spread across its facilities. The company itself creates more than 400,000 employees work in the entire value chain connected with Mitsubishi Motors Thailand.

About Mitsubishi Motors Thailand (MMTh)

Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand) Co., Ltd., the largest plant in the MMC group and an export hub to more than 120 countries, is one of Thailand’s leading automotive manufacturers committed to produce and sell a range of vehicles that are eco-friendly, high in quality, performance, safety, comfort, technology and customer satisfaction. In 2018 MMTh celebrated a total production of five million units, and officially opened Education Academy in Pathum Thani. MMTh’s current range of vehicles includes MITSUBISHI TRITON, MITSUBISHI PAJERO SPORT, MITSUBISHI ATTRAGE, MITSUBISHI MIRAGE, MITSUBISHI XPANDER, MITSUBISHI XPANDER CROSS and MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER PHEV. To ensure the highest quality, MMTh uses its proving ground in Si Racha, Chonburi to assess products from design and prototype stages to pre-production and commercialization. This ensures customers take delivery of vehicles that are second-to-none in all aspects of quality.

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