Toyota Motor Thailand Co Ltd hopes to supply up to 200 ‘All New Land Cruiser Prado' vehicles next year to the Lao market.

“The Prado market in Laos is in the top ten of 170 countries and achieves the best sales in Asia, except for China and Japan ,” said the company's Deputy General Manager, Mr Suphachai Sisuwannarak, at a press conference to launch the new Prado yesterday.

“Fifty vehicles have already been reserved.”

The new Prado will be officially launched in Vientiane on Friday at three showrooms operated by two authorised Toyota dealers, Lao Toyota Service and Toyota Lao Thani.

The vehicles range in price from 525 million to 677 million kip (US$62,000 to US$80,000), depending on style and accessories.

Company Vice President Sitachai Jeeratunyasakul said Prado products were officially launched in Laos in 2005 and were well received among business owners, senior bureaucrats, families and travellers.

Mr Sitachai said the new model is suitable for Lao terrain and will be more successful than the pre vious one.

The major changes to the model have been the result of advancements in the Land Cruiser family, which has lasted almost 60 years in the worldwide market.

Next year's delivery will be an increase on the 140 Land Cruiser Prados supplied this year, but will still be down on sales in 2008.

“We sold 300 to 400 Land Cruiser Prados last year because the world economy was good,” Mr Suphachai said.

“Sales dropped this year because of the world economic slowdown and the Lao government's increased import tax.”