Room for two at the wheel
Thai auto industry needn’t fear Indonesia’s rapid rise as both countries can play major roles in regional and world markets.
- Published: 1 Oct 2012 at 10.15
- Newspaper section: Asia focus
Thailand and Indonesia are set to become the two major automotive production centres in the region and will complement each other rather than compete, say industry experts.
Thailand began actively promoting the development of its automobile industry more than three decades ago, and in 1995 BusinessWeek magazine dubbed the country the “Detroit of the East”. Almost all of the world’s biggest names have plants and supporting industry networks in Thailand to serve heavy local demand and to export to the world. They include global players such as Toyota, Ford and General Motors and regional players such as Tata Motors.
Lately the rise of Indonesia, Asean’s biggest economy with nearly four times the population of Thailand, has prompted many observers to worry that Indonesia may one day become the region’s hub for automotive production.
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