NGK Spark Plug is to build a factory in Thailand to make parts for use in cars and motorcycles.
The company plans to construct the US$30m plant in the Amata Nakorn industrial park in the eastern part of the country. A 120,000 sq m site has been acquired for the facility, which is slated to come onstream in spring 2015.
As well as the local market, the plant will also supply Europe and China. It will initially turn out 18m units annually, with plans to raise output to 140m units a year by 2020.
NGK controls nearly 40% of the global spark plug market. Increasing parts output in Thailand is intended to help boost total annual production from 750m units at present to 1bn units by the end of the decade.