South Korean auto-maker Hyundai Motor Co. has considered Indonesia as its production base in the Southeast Asia, a newspaper reported Wednesday.

Indonesia, the region's most populous nation, offers bigger market advantage than neighboring Malaysia and Thailand, which also came top in Hyundai's Southeast Asia expansion plan, reported Bisnis Indonesia, quoting a Hyundai executive.

"Indonesia with its huge population becomes one of strong contenders for the assembly base of Hyundai products in Southeast Asia," said Hyundai Mobil Indonesia president Yongki Sugiarto.

But population is not the strongest issue in Hyundai's plan, given that smaller-scale Thailand booked car sales of some 600,000 a year, about 20 percent bigger than those of its giant neighbor.

"Despite Indonesia's promising market, the dominant presence of Japanese manufacturers in the country has become a particular problem and a unique consideration to Hyundai," said Yongki.

Hyundai's decision over the large automotive investment in the region will require comprehensive market projection for up to the next 30 years, he added.

Source: Xinhua