Japanese automakers’ long-dominant position in Southeast Asia is under threat from a new generation of Chinese rivals who made a bolder technology bet. Can they hold back the tide?
Visitors check out BYD's Seagull EV on display at the Bangkok International Motor Show in Nonthaburi Province, on the outskirts of Bangkok, Thailand, March 30, 2024. Credit: Anusak Laowilas/NurPhoto via Getty Images
In December 2023, ahead of a regional summit in Tokyo, Thai prime minister Srettha Thavisin sought an audience with heads of Japan’s largest carmakers. Thavisin’s desire to meet with auto industry leaders was not surprising. From the early 1960s Japanese firms had built Thailand into “Asia’s Detroit”, opening hundreds of production lines and creating more than 700,000 jobs. By 2023 they had invested almost $21 billion in Thailand, equivalent to 10 percent of its GDP. In the 1990s, Toyo
Exclusive longform investigative journalism, Q&As, news and analysis, and data on Chinese business elites and corporations. We publish China scoops you won't find anywhere else.
A weekly curated reading list on China from Andrew Peaple.
A daily roundup of China finance, business and economics headlines.
We offer discounts for groups, institutions and students. Go to our Subscriptions page for details.
The Australian journalist talks about how she coped for three years in a Chinese detention center, her views on China now and whether she would ever go back.
An award-winning podcast about the world’s two superpowers, the two men in charge, and the vital issues that affect us all. Face-Off cuts through the noise for the real story, with essential historical context.
In this season, longtime foreign correspondent for The New York Times Jane Perlez and celebrated China historian Rana Mitter cover Xi at the negotiating table, Gen Z disillusionment, China’s military rise, Pacific tensions, tech advances, and soft power.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OKPrivacy policy
