23-05-03 General Motors (GM), the world's biggest automaker, plans to sell cars using natural gas in Thailand this year, taking advantage of the government's promotion of the fuel for vehicles.
The Detroit-based automaker will adapt Chevrolet Zafira minivans and Optra sedans it builds at a plant in Rayong, southeast of Bangkok, said William Botwick, General Motors' operations director for southeast Asia, at the opening of a natural gas station for automobiles.

Thailand wants to increase usage of natural gas in cars, trucks and other automobiles to reduce imports of crude oil, at least 60 of which was consumed by vehicles, to cut foreign currency payments. The Southeast Asian country has at least 12.7 tcf of gas reserves.
"It's a time to enter this market because the government is developing an infrastructure" such as gas stations, Botwick said. The adapted cars will be able to use both gasoline and natural gas fuel, said Botwick.

PTT, the state-controlled oil company, plans to open at least 120 natural gas stations for cars, mostly in Bangkok, within the next five years, increasing the number from 8. The number of vehicles using natural gas is expected to rise to 44,500 by 2008 from 1,300, PTT President Viset Choopiban told.
PTT sells natural gas for vehicles at about half the price of gasoline to attract more car owners to shift to the fuel. The increased use of natural gas in automobiles is expected to reduce gasoline and diesel consumption by 526 mm litres a year in 2006, saving about 2.7 bn baht ($ 64 mm), he said.

PTT is also in talks with Toyota Motor, Thailand's biggest automaker, Honda Motor and Mitsubishi Motors to sell natural gas vehicles in Thailand, Prasert Bunsumpun, PTT's senior executive vice president for natural gas, said.