Auto testing center for research & development
Manufacturing electric cars in Thailand & increased tyre production to help rubber farmers are goals this ambitious new research center will support.
Manufacturing electric cars in Thailand & increased tyre production to help rubber farmers are goals this ambitious new research center will support.
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT & THE AUTO INDUSTRY
Auto testing center for research & development
15/11/2016
Piyachart Maikaew
The government is revving up construction of the first-ever automotive testing centre in preparation for an ambitious policy to make electric vehicles locally.
The testing centre should be finished by June 2019 and become operational by early 2020.
All facilities will be located on 1,235 rai in Chachoengsao's Sanam Chai Khet district.
Prime Minister Prayut has ordered that the project be sped up as part of the Thailand 4.0 policy on innovation and high technology.
Bird's eye view of new car testing facility being built.
EVALUATING NEW DESIGNS FOR SAFETY PERFORMANCE
The testing centre has the aim of empowering Thailand's auto industry to become an Asean hub not only for auto manufacturing but also for research and development (R&D).
The overall goal of the national testing centre is to provide a New Car Assessment Programme tasked with evaluating new designs for safety performance, for all automotive standards from the US, Australia, Europe and Japan.
Architect's vision of new car testing facility.
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT ON TYRES TO HELP RUBBER FARMERS
The tyre testing track with a quality on par with the UN's R-117 standard will start construction in May 2017 and be finished a year later.
The R&D unit for tyres is the top priority because the government aims to upgrade the country's rubber industry and increase rubber prices.
At present, there are 6 million farmers in the rubber sector.
A perspective view of architect's design for new car testing facility.
DOUBLING TYRE PRODUCTION
The government expects to increase tyre production from 530,000 tonnes per year now to 1 million tonnes in the near future.
Thailand can produce all tyres now except flat tyres which require high technology.
Six testing tracks are now being planned.
This is according to Mr Suthon Nikomkate, director of the Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI).
The TISI expects to start construction by 2018.
PROJECT BUDGET
According to the automotive testing centre's master plan, the government would invest 3.74 billion baht during 2016-20 out of the total 4.54 billion baht approved by the cabinet in June 2015, leaving the remaining 800 million baht for the centre's future development.
Mr Suthon said the 3.74-billion-baht budget would be divided in two phases -- 800 million baht for a tyre testing track, and 2.94 billion baht for six car testing tracks and a consultant's fee.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/1135533/plans-for-test-centre-revved-up
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