INGRESS Corp Bhd, which is involved in automotive component manufacturing, expects its business in Thailand to contribute some 50% to the group's revenue by the end of 2006.

Executive director Ab Rahim Husain told StarBiz that currently, the group's operations ill' Thailand contributed about 30%to the group's revenue ,while the remainder came from its business in Malaysia.

"The demand for automotive components in Thailand is expected to grow much more rapidly than in Malaysia. This is why our revenue from Thailand is expected to grow correspondingly," he said.

Rahim said exports of automotive in Thailand were expected to double in 2007 from about 180,000 units last year.

"About 70% of these exported components are mouldings, door sash, bellows and engine gas return pipes manufactured by our plant in Pattaya," he said.

He said the group had also received orders for its products from car assemblers in Thailand for models to be introduced in 2006.

Rahim said the group was now sole supplier of automotive components, to Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Bhd's Kancil cars.

"We will start supplying door- in-white to Kelisa next year;" he said, adding that it was now supplying aprons for Kenari.

Rahim said the group had the capacity to provide design-inservices which reduced designing time.

"Design-in means getting involved with the car manufacturer from the initial research and development stage till the completion of the product.

"Previously, the manufacturer would just hand over a, hard copy of the design for the component maker to develop (the parts),"he said.

Rahim said more car manufacturers were now demanding "design-in" services.