Small Chinese auto firms keen on Thai expansion

PUBLISHED : 3 Jul 2026 at 05:35

There are growing signs that small and medium-sized Chinese entrepreneurs in auto sectors are interested in investing in Thailand, according to the Thai-Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

Poj Aramwattananont, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said Chinese business investment in Thailand increased over the past 4-5 years.

Mr Poj, who is also a member of the Board of Investment, said a large number of Chinese entrepreneurs have signalled their interest in investing here.

Narongsak Putthapornmongkol, president of the Thai-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, said a substantial portion of the Chinese investment in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) is from state-owned enterprises.

However, he said there is growing interest from smaller and medium-sized Chinese companies, particularly those in the auto parts and auto battery sectors, seeking to invest in the area.

Thailand still lacks the capability to manufacture products in these categories that meet the needs of Chinese automakers, said Mr Narongsak.

Chinese automakers are willing to purchase Thai-made auto parts, he noted, but did not specify which areas Thai manufacturers should focus on to better serve the needs of Chinese automakers.

Mr Narongsak suggested Thai businesses use this opportunity to learn about Chinese technology, which enables the production of quality products at competitive prices.

Thai manufacturers need to develop their capabilities to compete with Chinese manufacturers, he said.

The Thai Board of Trade, the Thai-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and the Chinese Enterprises Association are organising the Thailand-China Cooperation Expo 2026 from July 22-25 at Challenger Hall 2 at Impact Muang Thong Thani. The expo features a consultation zone offering advice on investment and other business operations, business-to-business matching between Thai and Chinese companies, a job fair and an education fair, and conferences on business trends, trade and investment.