German luxury car maker BMW Group has bucked the sluggish market trend by spending another 1.1 billion baht to raise production of its passenger cars and motorcycles at its facility in Rayong's Amata City Industrial Estate.

Senior vice-president of logistics Jurgen Maidl announced yesterday that the Munich-based parent firm intends the facility in Thailand, run by BMW Group Manufacturing Thailand, to play an important role in the group's sales strategy for its engagement in the Asean and Asian markets.

Starting this year, its operation in Rayong has expanded the export activities of BMW Motorrad to China in addition to Malaysia. The group has shipped BMW cars to Malaysia since 2006.

"Under this new investment, the assembly capacity is expected to reach 20,000 vehicles per year for BMW and Mini and 10,000 motorcycles per year for BMW Motorrad from 2016," he said.

The Rayong plant now makes 10,000 vehicles per year and 1,000 motorcycles. The group spent €9 million (362 million baht) last year to upgrade the production line and logistics system.

Credit and view full story at Bangkok Post and Reuters