Dr Iain Corness
The Automotive Focus Group (AFG) featured a special networking evening last week
at the Amari Orchid and Tower titled “The State of the Nation.” This was of
immense interest to the members who packed the conference room at the Amari
Tower.
AFG
Deputy President
Ramesh Ramanathan.
The presentation was given by AFG Deputy President Ramesh Ramanathan from
material collated by Richard Jackson, Director of Business Development, RLC
Recruitment with data prepared by Tractus Thailand.
Mention was made of the fact that the AFG is now in its seventh year, and with
Thai, American, European, Asian and Japanese OEM’s and automotive suppliers on
the Eastern Seaboard this presents an unrivalled opportunity to share
information and learning related to the Thailand Automotive Industry.
Thailand has earned its title as the “Detroit of the East”, now ranked globally
at 9th in world production, and contributing 12 percent of Thailand’s GDP. There
are 21 car and motorcycle makers, 709 Tier 1 companies and 1,700 Tiers 2 and 3
companies.
In the ASEAN countries, Thailand has twice the number of total vehicles produced
per annum compared to Indonesia in second place.
Unfortunately, the production figures were skewed during 2011 and 2012 with the
government’s first car owner rebate, but production is expected to grow by five
percent in this year.
The Japanese manufacturers (Toyota, Honda, Mitsubishi and Nissan) dominate
production and sales, but the Chinese auto manufacturers are also coming in to
Thailand, with SAIC in a JV with the Thailand CP group to produce the MG cars.
Lively discussion took place during the presentation, with interest being shown
in many aspects, including the likely increase in exports to Australia, now that
the Australian motor industry is in its final throes of collapsing.
After the ‘official’ part of the evening, the AFG members moved to the Ice Bar
in the Amari Tower for a relaxed networking and further discussion.
Contact with the AFG can be made through Frank Holzer, President, email
[email protected].
