Japanese companies established Thailand’s auto industry virtually from scratch, dating back to the years after World War II.
By the late 1970s, Japanese brands commanded around 90 percent of car sales in Thailand.
Now Japanese automakers’ stronghold is finally being loosened by Chinese manufacturers that offer something they don’t: electric vehicles at affordable prices.
The influx of Chinese brands like BYD, Great Wall Motor and SAIC Motor in the past two years is ringing alarms in Japan.
In December, Srettha Thavisin, Thailand’s prime minister, traveled to Japan with a message for Japanese companies: Move quickly, invest in electric vehicles or lose out to China.
Persons:
Srettha
Organizations:
South Korean, Motor, SAIC
Locations:
Thailand, Japan, China