Japan's Isuzu says no plans to relocate factory from Thailand to Indonesia (updated)

Isuzu Motors

08/06/2023 11:44

(Adds Indonesian official's comment in paragraphs 5, 6)
       TOKYO, June 8 (Reuters) - Japanese truck maker Isuzu
Motors  7202.T  said on Thursday it was not planning to move a
factory to Indonesia from Thailand, a day after the Indonesian
industry minister signalled it would.
    "While our company continues to focus on Indonesia as a
major market, there are no plans to relocate a Thai factory to
Indonesia," an Isuzu spokesperson said.
    The company had made no announcement on the matter, the
spokesperson added. Isuzu already has a factory in Karawang,
Indonesia.
    Indonesian Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said
on Wednesday that Isuzu planned to move the factory and could
start production as early as next year.
    A senior industry ministry official maintained late on
Thursday that Isuzu would be relocating its factory to
Indonesia.
    "Maybe they haven't really communicated it. But it's
confirmed they want to relocate UD Truck (their truck factory),"
Taufiek Bawazier, a director general at Indonesia's industry
ministry, told reporters.
    Shares of some Thai auto parts companies sold off on
Thursday following the comment from the Indonesian industry
minister.
    Isuzu began building trucks in Thailand 60 years ago.
    

 (Reporting by Daniel Leussink in Tokyo and Stefanno Sulaiman
and Bernadette Christina in Jakarta. Editing by Gerry Doyle and
Sriraj Kalluvila)
 ((daniel.leussink@thomsonreuters.com; Twitter:
@danielleussink;))