Supporting the automotive industry! China Automotive Technology Research Center establishes Southeast Asia representative office in Thailand

Boosting the Automotive Industry China Automotive Technology Research Center Opens Southeast Asia Representative Office in Thailand

【PhoneAuto News】According to reports, the Ministry of Industry of Thailand recently announced that the Chinese state-owned research institution “China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC, referred to as CATARC)” has opened a Southeast Asian representative office in the capital city of Bangkok. With the increasing presence of large-scale electric vehicle (EV) companies such as BYD from China in Southeast Asia, CATARC will expand its support system.

Thailand is the fourth country where CATARC has established overseas branches, following Japan, Switzerland, and Germany. In addition to Thailand, it will also understand and grasp the automotive-related standards and regulations in surrounding countries such as Indonesia.

In Southeast Asia, there are different systems regarding subsidies, import tariffs, and certification testing standards. CATARC will be responsible for information collection and other tasks to provide support to Chinese manufacturers.

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According to the Ministry of Industry of Thailand, CATARC will also exchange testing and certification technology with relevant departments in the country. Nattapol Rangsitpol, the Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Industry of Thailand, said, “This is the first step taken by China in the construction of infrastructure in the Thai automotive industry.”

In Southeast Asia, the entry of large Chinese car companies is very active. According to data released by companies and governments, as well as local reports, by the end of November 2023, more than 10 Chinese EV companies have entered or expressed interest in entering Thailand, doubling the number at the end of 2022. In addition to Guangzhou Automobile and Changan Automobile, Zhejiang Geely Holding and others also plan to enter Thailand.

In Thailand’s new car sales from January to October, Chinese manufacturers accounted for a total share of 10%, a 5.5 percentage point increase compared to the same period in 2022, while Japanese manufacturers accounted for a total share of 78.3%, a decrease of 7.5 percentage points compared to the previous year. Looking at the proportion of pure electric vehicles, which account for about 10% of total new car sales, Chinese companies occupy 80% of that share.

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