Vibrant Launch of Thai Motor Expo 2008 in Bangkok: Gathering of 41 Prominent Car Brands

BANGKOK – December 2, 2008: The 25th Thailand International Motor Expo 2008” was officially launched at IMPACT Challenger 1-3, Muang Thong Thani, with as many as 41 brands of cars on display, creating a new phenomenon in motor shows of Thailand and Southeast Asia with the highest number of cars exhibited.

Mr. Kwanchai Paphatphong, Organizing Chairman of the 25th Motor Expo revealed, “The Motor Expo this year is held under the concept “Obligation of Mankind to Stop Global Warming” as a campaign to urge every person to be aware of the current global warming crisis, whereby several car companies cooperate in providing informative facts about the subject in addition to displaying their cars. And this year we have increased the car display area by more than 5,000 square metres, making it the largest car show area in Thailand, because as many as 41 car brands needed to be displayed”.

“Car companies participating in the Motor Expo comprise ASTON MARTIN, AUDI, BENTLEY, BMW, CHEVROLET, CHRYSLER, CITROEN, COBRA, DFM, FERRARI, FIAT, FORD, GEELY, GRAND CARRYBOY, HONDA, HYUNDAI, ISUZU, JAGUAR, KIA, LAND ROVER, LAMBORGHINI, LEXUS, LONDON TAXI, MAZDA, MERCEDES-BENZ, MITSUBISHI, MITSUOKA, MTM, NAZA, NISSAN, PEUGEOT, POLARSUN, PORSCHE, PROTON, SSANGYONG, SUBARU, SUZUKI, TATA, TOYOTA, VOLKSWAGEN and VOLVO.”

“Several prototype cars that fit in with the Expo concept are also displayed viz. FORD RANGER MAX, COBRA SCUDERIA BIZZARRINI S.A.S. P538, CHEVROLET VOLT, HYUNDAI I 10 SUPER BLUE CNG, MAZDA TAIKI, MITSUBISHI I-MIEV, PEUGEOT SPIDER 207 and SUZUKI KIZASHI 2.”

“There are also plenty of car sound systems and accessories on sale in the Expo. Interesting indoor and outdoor activities also abound including “Motor Expo Smart Pretty Vote 2008” wherein visitors can have fun with “Voting for Pretty to Win Gold” activity which is supported by Slim Up Center; “The 9th Motor Expo Design Award 2008” which is a competition for students in car design under the concept “Motor Vehicles that Stop Global Warming”; display of top-notch racing cars in Motor Sport Zone; exhibition of vintage cars by Vintage Car Club of Thailand; Thai Arts, Culture and National Identity Showground; Motor Expo Young Artists; Expo of Pre-owned Cars; plus outdoor activities such as Car Club Meeting, Car Stereo Alley & Activities, SPIRIT OF THE 4x4 DRIVING SCHOOL, etc.”

Mr. Kwanchai continued, “The Expo this year still features lucky draw programs to return profit to the visitors as before, with the promotion “Buy a Car, Win a Car”, “Buy a Ticket to Win a Car”, and “SMS to Win a Car”, to give away a total of 3 cars to the lucky visitors. Any visitor who buys or places an order for a car in the Expo is entitled to contest for the prize of a new 4-door white SUBARU Impreza worth 1,120,000 Baht in the “Buy a Car, Win a Car” program. A visitor who buys a Motor Expo admission ticket will receive a coupon to contest for a CHEVROLET Aveo 1.4 Base (A/T) worth 545,000 Baht in the “Buy a Ticket to Win a Car” program. Those who send an SMS from mobile phones in “SMS to Win a Car” program stand a chance of winning a HONDA Jazz worth 597,000 Baht. Altogether the prizes are worth more than 2 million Baht.”

“Moreover, Motor Expo Information Center, set up for the first time to provide information service to visitors, should make it more convenient for the visitors in making their choice of cars to buy or in touring the Expo, as the Center can provide details about cars on display such as prices, promotions and locations of the booths as well as highlights and other activities of the Expo. Motor Expo Information Center, staffed full time throughout the opening hours, will be situated in 3 locations at entrances to Hall 2 and Hall 3 near the LCD Screen.”

“The 25th THAILAND INTERNATIONAL MOTOR EXPO 2008” is open to the public from November 29 to December 10, 2008 (Weekday from 1200 – 2200 hrs., Saturday, Sunday and Official Holiday from 1100 – 2200 hrs.). On Saturday 29 November, 2008 the Motor Expo will be live telecast on Royal Thai Army Television Channel 5 from 1345 to 1540 hrs. with Sanya Kunakorn and Nu wan – Ms. Pavarisa Penchart as host and hostess.

The official Opening Ceremony was presided over by the Minister of Industry Police General Pracha Promnok and attended by the Ambassadors and Representative from the Embassy of Czech Republic, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Sweden, the People’s Republic of China, India, France, Japan and Italy along with a large number of distinguished guests.