First Japanese Affiliated Carmaker to go Public in Asia

05/14/96

NikkeiNet reported that Siam Nissan Automobile Co. will list its stock on Thailand's stock exchange by the end of this year. Siam Nissan Motor Co. is Thailand's third biggest carmaker. It is owned jointly by Siam Motors Co. (75%) and Nissan Motor Co. (25%). The company will be the first Japanese affiliated carmaker to go public in Asia.

Both Nissan Motor and Siam Motors will at least double capital in preparation for a listing of company stock in November or December. Money raised by the offering will fund capital investment for increasing output of pickup trucks and expanding dealer networks. Siam Nissan will boost their production of pickups to 180,000 in 1998. The 1995 figure was around 95,000.

Nissan's emphasis on light trucks contrasts with other Japanese automakers, such as Honda and Toyota Motor Corp., who are focusing on inexpensive passenger cars for growing Asian markets.

Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel