Mazda to start production of small cars in Thailand

According to this story from The Nation, Mazda plans to bring production of the Demio to Thailand. According to the article production will not start until 2009. By then Honda should already have the new Jazz.

The Demio is known as the Mazda 2 in some markets, and will probably use that name here to fit in below the 3. The Mazda Demio platform will be updated next year and will also form the basis for a Ford small car, in a reverse of the current arrangement whereby the Focus shares its underpinnings with the Mazda 3.

The new factory should produce 200,000 units a year, a welcome boost to Thailand's "Detroit of Asia" ambitions.