Elliot Zhang, president of Great Wall Motor ASEAN and Thailand, speaks at an event in Bangkok on Feb. 9. (Photo courtesy of Great Wall Motors)

 

Chinese automaker looks to crack ASEAN market with first AI-driven production in the region

 

MARIMI KISHIMOTO, Nikkei staff writer

 

BANGKOK -- Chinese automaker Great Wall Motor will open a factory in Thailand next week after turning a plant acquired last year from General Motors into a regional base with production lines powered by artificial intelligence.

 

The facility will mark the company's first smart plant in Southeast Asia and strengthens its presence in the region, Great Wall said Tuesday.

 

The automaker has not disclosed the upgrade costs, but it has announced plans to invest 22.6 billion baht ($726 million) in Thailand, a market long dominated by Japanese automakers.

 

Full story: https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Automobiles/Former-GM-plant-in-Thailand-reborn-as-Great-Wall-smart-factory

 

-- © Copyright Nikkei Asian Review 2021-06-03

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Well, they are in the right place for artificial intelligence.

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Chinese automaker Great Wall Motor will open a factory in Thailand next week after turning a plant acquired last year from General Motors into a regional base with production lines powered by artificial intelligence.

Mostly automated production, that means minimal labour needed.

I guess the government has worked out a financial package to let it operate, but not much use to Thais looking for much needed work.

Another deal with the devil.

The road to Hell is paved with.....

 

How long will it be before China starts building artificial reefs around some Thai islands?

 

Sure, laugh about it.

5 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Well, they are in the right place for artificial intelligence.

 

Post of the year ????????

There will be many more business to follow the "rebirth as Great Wall "something".

Smart factories with artificial intelligence -latter makes absolute sense as AI can certainly compete - except in the categories of Somtam and overcharging and it is clever by the Chinese to avoid local employs as much as possible. 

AI does not hide behind a biased labour law in favour of the "chosen people" in the "promised land", does not feature sick buffaloes all over Northeastern Thailand, does exactly what it is being told to do, 24/7, and at the end for a fraction of the price. 

The next decades will see the neo-colonialism of Thailand's big brethren in red from the North and there is absolutely nothing anyone could do to stop them. 

As far as I am concerned, the Chinese cannot fare worse than the locals ....

The change from GM to Great Wall is a none too subtle symbol of Thailand moving away from it's longstanding relationship with the US and into the claws of China. Coinciding nicely with another move - away from Democracy into another word starting with D that is verboten.

 

As others have noted, using AI will reduce the need for Thai labour. But hey, it's not like China or the Junta care about the serfs is it? Profits for the elites is order of the day under the current regime.

1 hour ago, JonnyF said:

The change from GM to Great Wall is a none too subtle symbol of Thailand moving away from it's longstanding relationship with the US and into the claws of China. Coinciding nicely with another move - away from Democracy into another word starting with D that is verboten.

 

As others have noted, using AI will reduce the need for Thai labour. But hey, it's not like China or the Junta care about the serfs is it? Profits for the elites is order of the day under the current regime.

 

Agree, and anyway the ruling elite in Thailand (as throughout most of SEA) are ethnic Chinese anyway. The Chinese in SEA have always treated SEA countries as playgrounds for their elites. Cheap, brown women to marry and docile populations to exploit.

 

SEA is to the Chinese what Africa was to the Europeans and what Central and South America has been to the US.

 

Same same, but different.

18 hours ago, RocketDog said:

Sure, laugh about it.

 

Will do.

 

????????????????

So what made  Pattaya  so famous? Chinese executives?