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.
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.
AFG Deputy President Ramesh Ramanathan.
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].
