The Thailand Automotive Institute will revise its industry master plan for the next five years, with the main focus to be put on alternative energy and becoming a top 10 auto producer by 2014, says director Wallop Tiasiri.

The institute is currently in the process of inviting executives from 14 car and parts companies to discuss setting up the third phase (2012-16) of the master plan as well as set new targets for vehicle production.

"We'll also push for investment in new products, which will focus on vehicles using alternative energy," said Mr. Wallop.

The first phase of the industry master plan (2002-06) featured pickup trucks, while the second (2007-11) focused on eco-friendly cars.

The second phase resulted in the country's auto industry exporting about half its output.

"The third phase will call for auto production in Thailand to exceed 3 million units in 2014," said Mr. Wallop.

Thailand currently ranks 12th or 13th in the world in production, with 1.45 million units at the end of last year, lower than the previous projection of 1.8 million units.

"The floods have made it hard to hold discussions with chief executives of various automotive companies, as each one of them is having trouble seeking parts for vehicle production," said Mr. Wallop. "Therefore, there is no deadline and target for the third phase, but initially we may be looking for new products that use alternative energy such as E85 vehicles, as Thailand has a large number of agricultural products that can be used to produce energy."

He expects discussions of the third phase to begin by mid-year after all factories have recovered, probably in the second quarter. Production should reach 500,000 units in the first quarter.

"Due to the flooding, orders have been increasingly high, and customers must wait for an average of four months to receive their vehicles. That is the longest period of waiting ever experienced in all our various crises - it's usually been only one or two months," said Mr. Wallop.

Vehicle production should reach 2 million units this year, while domestic sales should rise by 30% to 1.1 million units.