Not in China, not in Japan, is the Sino-Japanese car war in Thailand?

In recent years, China's automobile exports have experienced rapid growth, becoming an important player in the global automobile market. Especially since 2020, the number of car exports from China has been consistently climbing, which attracted much attention. Recently, China's automobile exports have surpassed Japan, becoming the biggest car exporter in the world. At the same time, Chinese automakers are venturing into overseas markets, with Thailand being a strategic focus.

Over the past decade and more, China's car exports have made a huge leap, surpassing the million-unit mark. From 20,000 units in 2002 to over a million in 2012, and exceeding 3 million in 2022, the data reveals China's strong export capacity. In the first quarter of this year, China's automobile exports surpassed Japan's, temporarily ranking first in the world.

Thailand has become a hot destination for Chinese automakers to venture into overseas markets. The Chinese electric vehicle industry has shown a keen interest in investing in Thailand, with total investments expected to exceed $1.44 billion. A series of Chinese auto companies have begun to set up production bases in Thailand, with brands such as BYD, Chery, MG, and NETA either already established or planning to set up factories.

However, the Thai auto market is not an easy problem to solve. For a long time, Japanese car brands have dominated the Thai market, with a market share of over 80%. Years of development have given Japanese auto brands a strong influence in the Thai market, with some even referring to Thailand as Toyota's "second hometown".

This means that it will not be easy for Chinese automakers to claim a stake in the Thai market. The auto industry chain in Thailand is firmly controlled by Japanese brands, and the factories and supply chains established by Japanese automakers have become the backbone of Thai automobile manufacturing. To gain a foothold in this market, Chinese automakers face many challenges, including competition with Japanese brands and market perception issues.

Overall, the continuous growth of China's car exports and the overseas expansion of Chinese automakers demonstrate the strength and vitality of China's auto industry. However, in expanding into international markets, various challenges and issues must be faced and solutions that suit their development should be sought. In competing with established automakers like Japan, Chinese automakers need to continuously improve in areas such as product quality and brand recognition to win the recognition and support of the overseas market.