Range extenders can extend the driving range for an electric vehicle ...

innovation
As the eighth largest automotive production base in the
world, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
has the potential to be one of the biggest auto parts and
accessories sourcing hubs.
ASEAN – consisting of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR,
Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam
- has a population of about 526 million and a combined GDP of
US$1.27-trillion. The region has an annual growth rate of more
than five percent. The Car parc is in the region of 26 million which
indicates a car penetration rate of about 25 per 1000.
To promote the region, Thailand’s Department of Export
Promotion (DEP) is hosting an ASEAN Pavilion at
the biennial Thailand Auto Parts & Accessories
(TAPA) 2010 exhibition. For the first time, the
Achana Limpaitoon, vice president of
the Thai Auto-Parts Manufacturers
Association (TAPMA).
DEP is offering complimentary booth to 10 ASE-
AN countries, 5 booths each, a total of 450 SQM.
are provided for all 10 ASEAN countries. Until now,
there are 5 countries scheduled to attend the exhibition,
including 6 booths from Malaysia, 7 booths from Singapore,
3 booths from Vietnam and 5 booths from The Philippines.
With a highly infrastructure and located close to Asia’s biggest
markets, Thailand is positioning itself as a natural regional logistics
hub. Geographically, Bangkok is closer to the heart of Asia
than any other Asian city aside from Shanghai and Taipei. As a
group, ASEAN -member countries are positioning themselves to
provide a wide range of components and assemblies to OEMs.
Large OEMs such as Toyota and Honda have recognized the importance
of ASEAN and have a strong supply chain management
presence in the region. Thailand is already the largest production
base in ASEAN and the country has naturally become the nerve
center of the supply chain for most automotive companies.
Automotive production
in Thailand by year:
2006 = 1,188,044
2007 = 1,287,346
2008 = 1,393,742
Thailand taking
center position as ASEAN
auto parts hub
In recent years, has earned an impressive reputation as the ideal
platform for both local and international companies to showcase their
auto parts, accessories, products and services. To ensure the continuous
success of TAPA 2010, the Department of Export Promotion
(DEP), Ministry of Commerce, and the Royal Thai Government embarked
on a nine-city road show from September to November 2009
to promote the exhibition. The road shows were held in Kuala Lumpur,
Manila, Hanoi, Jakarta, Chongqing and Shanghai, Singapore, Dhaka
and New Delhi. The road shows were attended by about 300 delegates
and officials from DEP, Thai Auto-Parts Manufacturers Association
(TAPMA) and consulting firm, Frost & Sullivan, were
present to brief about overall automotive industry, The
Role of Thailand in supporting automotive and auto
parts business, as well as the cooperation in automotive
industry, auto parts and accessories
to the attendees on TAPA 2010.
Industry players present at the road
shows included Key Safety Systems, Bosch,
Magna Intier China, Valeo Asia, Delphi,
Shanghai Automotive Parts Circulation Trade
Association, Shanghai Federation of Industry
and Commerce Autoparts and Accessories
Chamber of Commerce, Geely Auto,Federal-
Mogul Corp, Cherry Auto, Tata Motors, Denso
India, Hino Motors, Hero Honda, Mitsui, Takata,
Perodua Vendors Club, Proton Vendors Club, APM
Auto Electrics, Armstrong, Delloyd Ventures, Tracoma,
PT Selamat Sempurna, ADR Group, PT Astra Nissan Diesel
Indonesia and GIAMM (Indonesia Motor Vehicle and Motorcycle
Equipment Industry Association).
Vice president of the Thai Autoparts Manufacturers Association
(TAPMA), Achana Limpaitoon, said ASEAN would have an even
stronger role to play when it became a Free Trade Area (FTA) this
year. “The lifting of trade barriers will help ASEAN to be market
competitive against major players such as China”. ASEAN’s automotive
players had the competitive edge to produce quality parts
at attractive prices, she added.
According to Limpaitoon, Thailand is keen to work closely with
other ASEAN countries to promote and develop the region as an
auto parts and accessories sourcing hub.
“Thailand has the strongest original equipment and manufacturing
(OEM) and replacement equipment manufacturing (REM) capability in
Asia, with more than US$6-billion in annual export value,” she said.
TAPA 2010 is an excellent platform to enhance cooperation in
the automotive industry as well as to strengthen the market potential
within ASEAN. TAPA is expected to bring together more than
300 exhibitors across the ASEAN area at the Bangkok International
Trade and Exhibition Center in Bangna, Bangkok. More than 16 000
visitors from ASEAN, Africa, India, Bangladesh, China, Japan, the
Middle East, Europe, Latin America and the United States are
expected to attend the event. AI
82 to read full version of AI stories go to www.ai-online.com