Yangon – A total of 17 Japanese automobile companies will run automobile industries in Myanmar in cooperation with local counterparts covering the sectors of manufacturing, trading and production of automobile accessories, the local Biweekly Eleven News reported Friday.
The Japanese automobile companies include Honda Motor Co.,Ltd, Fujiko , Honda Cars Mie-kita, Auto Mall, Over Racing Project, Gild Design Factory, Hattori Naoki and Suzaka Carry Service companies as well as Suzuka Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Led by Suzuka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Japanese automakers from the 17 companies will hold discussions on the move with Myanmar entrepreneurs at the office of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI) on Jan. 18, the report said.

Myanmar mostly imports Chinese and Japanese joint-venture cars and automobile spare parts for use in the country.

Currently, Myanmar is planning to produce HiAce as well as LiteAce automobile cars of one to two and a half tons with 80 percent of the engine and spare parts being imported, the report added.

Meanwhile, India’s largest truck and bus manufacturing plant, Ta Ta Motors, was launched in the Magway Industrial Zone in Magway, central part of Myanmar in cooperation with Myanmar’s Ministry of Industry-2 in December last year.

Under a contract with Myanmar, the Indian plant is to assemble about 1,100 trucks of 20, 25 and 30 tons and 1,000 Nano luxury cars annually.

Of them, Nano luxury cars, the products of Ta Ta Motors, will be introduced in Myanmar’s automobile market later this year.

According to local report, altogether 82,785 motor vehicles have been produced by Myanmar’s 18 industrial zones up to June, 2010.