- Chinese investment is shifting Thailand toward high-value, innovation-driven industries
- Chinese automakers are driving Thailand’s zero-emission vehicle production goals
- Investment is expanding into sustainable transport and digital sectors
An influx of high-value projects driven by Chinese investment is undergirding Thailand’s goal of becoming a global export hub for advanced technologies, according to EEC secretary-general Chula Sukmanop.
The Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) launched in 2017 to transform the three eastern provinces into a high-tech industrial ecosystem through a combination of investment incentives and major infrastructure upgrades.
Chinese companies have become significant investors in Thailand and are bringing new technologies and sophisticated technologies to the country. There has also been a shift in investment and emphasis within the country away from traditional manufacturing into industries based on innovation and technology as evidenced by the influx of Chinese investment.
The most visible impact of this investment is in the automotive sector where Chinese manufacturers BYD, Changan, GAC Aion, Great Wall Motor and MG are building production facilities to manufacture automobiles for the domestic and export markets.
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These automobile manufacturers are developing the entire EV ecosystem from batteries, battery chips and pack production, charging stations, energy storage, related components. The Thai Board of Investment approved 137.7 billion baht (about US $4.25 billion) for investments in EV supply chain projects, including 21 battery EV production facilities with a total annual production capacity of 386,000 units.
In the first half of 2025, the production of passenger battery EVs hit 23,798 units, a year-on-year improvement of 380% and accounted for 3.28% of total auto production. The government wants zero-emission vehicles to account for 30% of annual auto production by 2030.
In addition to EVs, Chinese investors are also pursuing Thailand’s digital technology sector as well as the Biocircular-Green (BCG) economy, which emphasizes sustainable and circular production. Future cooperation may also include electric buses, trucks, railways, and clean energy-supported green ports.
Commemorating 50 years of Thai-Chinese diplomatic relations, Chula described Thailand's partnership as providing a platform for China's research-based technologies to be commercialized for global markets, which will help buy more economic and technological collaboration between the two countries.