Thailand Racing to Supply SE Asia’s Demand for Vehicles

About 2.5 million cars and trucks will be built in Thailand in 2013. (Steve L. Herman/VOA)

A robot helping to make a vehicle in a Honda factory in Thailand. (Steve L. Herman/VOA)

Future expansion of the Thailand's auto production industry could be hampered by a labor shortage. But women are already a vital element of the workforce, comprising one nearly third of workers in some factories. (Steve L. Herman/VOA)

Sparks fly as a robot helps to assemble a vehicle in a GM factory. (Steve L. Herman/VOA)

Hindistanın şimal-şərq bölgəsindəki Naqalenddə Hornbil festivalı


 

A worker welding inside the body of a car on a GM assembly line in Thailand. (Steve L. Herman/VOA)

About 400,000 workers are employed in Thailand automobile factories. These workers in the Ford canteen enjoy a free meal during their shift. (Steve L. Herman/VOA)

A worker installs the names of the victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami on the wall of the Tsunami Museum ahead of the 10th anniversary of the killer waves in Banda Aceh, Aceh province, Indonesia.

Some automakers manufacture their own engines in Thailand. Others import them. This Ford engine is made in India. (Steve L. Herman/VOA)

Automakers say while they strive to make cars in Thailand which meet global standards the vehicle designs need to be modified to meet the criteria of Southeast Asian roads and driving habits. (Steve L. Herman/VOA)