Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has rejected reports that Japanese manufacturers are shifting production out of Thailand, saying his government will support long-established investors and the country's conventional automotive industry. Speaking in Wellington, New Zealand, on 21 August, Anutin said Japan remained especially important to Thailand after using the country as a major manufacturing base for decades. Japanese businesses are deeply embedded in Thailand's industrial sector, he said. The government values investors from every country and is ready to adjust business conditions and remove barriers to maintain Japanese confidence, according to Anutin. "The government's core policy is to remain open and improve various conditions to make business operations more flexible under our good relationship, so that we can achieve sustainable growth and long-term economic cooperation and maintain Japan's strong production base in Thailand," he said. Thailand's established car industry Anutin said the automotive sector was particularly significant because Japanese brands manufacture most vehicle components in Thailand, including engines, bodies, chassis and other systems. "This is something we cannot abandon, and we must ensure that investors do not abandon Thailand either," he said. He added that Japanese companies had operated in Thailand for so long that the countries' automotive production systems had become closely intertwined. "We are ready to ease obstacles to reassure them that we have not abandoned them. It cannot be a situation where we give them everything when we need them, but once they are doing well, we later add more conditions," Anutin said. EV measures to be reviewed The prime minister said he had instructed Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas to review measures applying to investors from different countries. The aim is to ensure Japan's automotive industry is not disadvantaged as Japanese firms move into Thailand's electric vehicle sector, while maintaining fair competition and confidence among carmakers of different nationalities. Anutin acknowledged that EV manufacturers initially import many parts. However, he said local supply chains for batteries, computer systems and other components were expected to emerge as production requirements encouraged companies to establish operations in Thailand. Anutin also said political and economic stability would remain central to attracting and retaining investment. Investment figures cited He pointed to foreign investment figures as evidence that confidence had not weakened. Foreign investment exceeded 1 trillion baht last year, he said, while actual foreign investment had reached about 530 billion baht in the first half of 2026. "Since this government took office, foreign investment in Thailand has increased," Anutin said, adding there was no indication that production bases were leaving or that investment was slowing because Thailand was unprepared. Related story Thailand-targets-car-production-in-new-excise-tax-plan Join the discussion? 22 August 2026
View full article
