Thailand, the great ASEAN car factory, sets its sights even higher

Founded over 50 years ago, the modern country of Thailand is home to one the ASEAN region’s more mature automotive industries. It contributes around 12% to the national GDP, and the sector as a whole employs around 500,000 people. To date, nearly 20 OEMs have established a presence in the country. The Japanese OEMs dominate, with Toyota, Honda and Nissan all assembling in the country, but BMW, GM and Daimler are also there, along with a number of Tier 1 suppliers. Unlike in some other Asian markets, OEMs are not required to enter joint ventures with local companies.