Ford Motor Company Chairman and Chief Executive Officer William Clay Ford, Jr. made this announcement after a private meeting with Prime Minister Pol. Lt. Col. Dr. Thaksin Shinatwatra in Thailand. The announcements mark a new chapter for AAT. Within the next three years, AAT will embark on a growth plan driven by new vehicle programs, with investments in facility upgrades, additional tooling and engineering, as well as an expansion of the plant's capacity to 200,000 units (both CBU and CKD), up from the current 135,000.

Thailand is an outstanding success story for Mazda and Ford in Asia Pacific. One of the reasons for the success can be attributed to the Thai government's open policy towards foreign investment. These include not only economic incentives and relaxation of foreign ownership restrictions but also the policies and economic stability. Thailand also offers the additional advantages of a large domestic market, the biggest pick-up market outside of the United States, excellent energy and transportation infrastructure, strong supply base and available pool of skilled labor.

These were reasons that compelled Mazda and Ford to invest an initial US$500 million in establishing AutoAlliance Thailand in 1995, which has since proven to be a sound and rewarding investment for both companies. Despite the economic downturn of 1997, AAT had thrieved as a global exporter of one-ton pickups. AAT's operations have contributed to increased revenue and a positive trade balance of more than US$1 billion (48 billion Baht) to Thailand since the automakers started exporting the Mazda Fighter and Ford Ranger in 1998. AAT has surpassed 300,000 units production and is exporting the Fighter and Ranger to more than 130 markets worldwide, including Europe, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Asia.

AAT's many achievements should be credited to its strong management team and empeloyees, which itself speaks volumes of the successful partnership between Mazda and Ford that combines the best of Mazda's engineering expertise with Ford's global truck and SUV heritage.