The Eastern Economic Corridor Office (EECO) organized the EEC Sectoral Deep Dive Forum 2026 (2nd Session): Next-Generation Automotive Forum on 22 June 2026, providing a dedicated platform for substantive dialogue on the advancement of the next-generation automotive industry — with a focus on electric vehicles (EV) — and the strengthening of the industrial ecosystem within the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).
Mr. Chula Sukmanop, Secretary General of EECO, delivered the opening remarks, underscoring that the global automotive industry is undergoing a fundamental transformation toward electric vehicles, intelligent mobility, and digital technologies — a transition that is reshaping industrial structures, supply chains, investment patterns, and workforce requirements on a worldwide scale. His remarks highlighted Thailand’s strategic position as a leading manufacturing base in the region and affirmed the EEC’s central role in fostering a comprehensive automotive ecosystem, spanning investment promotion, infrastructure development, research and development, workforce advancement, and the integration of Thai enterprises into global supply chains.
The forum featured a keynote address by Mrs. Cholachit Vorawangso Virakul, Assistant Secretary General of EECO, titled “Thailand’s EEC and Transition to a Global Electric Vehicle Manufacturing Hub.” The address outlined Thailand’s policy direction and investment opportunities in the future automotive sector amid evolving global supply chains and the China+1 trend, underscoring the EEC’s strategic role in advancing Thailand’s ambition to become a regional EV manufacturing hub through strong industrial foundations, enabling policies, world-class infrastructure, and localization efforts that reinforce long-term competitiveness.
A panel discussion on “Investment Success Stories: Elevating Thailand’s EV Industry through Localization” brought together senior executives from leading automotive companies operating in Thailand, including Mr. Prawit Vijitthanakul, Commercial Manager of BYD Auto (Thailand) Co., Ltd.; Mr. Suroj Sangsnit, Executive Vice President of SAIC Motor-CP Co., Ltd.; Ms. Warajit Yomsatieankul, Assistant Managing Director of Toyota Motor Thailand Co., Ltd.; and Mr. Krisda Utamote, Director of Corporate Communications at BMW Group Thailand Co., Ltd. The panelists shared insights on their operational experiences and investment journeys in Thailand, emphasizing the importance of developing the EV sector in parallel with maintaining the competitiveness of the conventional automotive industry. They further highlighted the critical role of robust local supply chains, workforce development, and supportive government policies in enhancing Thailand’s overall automotive competitiveness.
A second key session, “Building an Ecosystem for the Next-Generation Automotive Industry in the EEC,” convened experts from the automotive, education, and financial sectors. Key topics addressed included automotive testing infrastructure, presented by Mr. Threepol Boonyamarn, Executive Vice President of the Thailand Automotive Institute (TAI); workforce development for next-generation automotive and smart mobility, presented by Associate Professor Dr. Khosit Sriphuthon, President of Rajamangala University of Technology Isan (RMUTI); and green finance for a sustainable automotive industry, presented by Mr. Zheng Gang, Senior Executive Vice President of Bank of China (Thai).
The forum reaffirmed Thailand’s readiness — particularly within the EEC — to support the continued growth of the future automotive industry through robust infrastructure, investment facilitation, industry collaboration, and talent development. It further demonstrated the indispensable role of close cooperation among government agencies, industry stakeholders, and academic institutions in advancing Thailand’s standing as a leading global hub for next-generation automotive industries.
