The government of Thailand will offer tax breaks to western auto manufacturers to export more flexible-fuel vehicles to the country, The Earth Times said. "Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, addressing his weekly 'Talking Samak Style' TV program, said the government decided to offer tax breaks for imported E85-compatible vehicles despite a request from Japanese auto manufacturers to delay the plan by two years," The Earth Times said. "Several U.S. and European auto manufacturers already produce E85-compatible models, but Japanese manufacturers are expected to come out with their E80-compatible models for the export market only after two years. The Thai automobile market is dominated by Japanese manufacturers, nearly all of whom have set up assembly and manufacturing plants in Thailand to avoid high import taxes on completely built-up vehicles."

(The Earth Times, Aug. 17, 2008)

(http://www.earthtimes.org/…)