THAILAND
<i> Times Staff and Wire Reports</i>
Ford, Mazda in Venture to Produce Pickups: The auto makers said they plan to build a manufacturing plant near Bangkok next spring. The total investment in land and facilities will be about $500 million, Ford Motor Co. said. The plant will have an annual capacity of about 135,000 vehicles, with production scheduled to start in mid-1998. Dearborn, Mich.-based Ford and Mazda Motor Corp. of Japan will hold equal stakes in the venture. Ford owns a 25% stake in Mazda. The venture is aimed at expanding pickup truck sales in Thailand and neighboring markets.
