Naturally the CEO said the right things about Thailand but they didn't get to be one of the world's major companies by rushing into things so if there's any suggestion they might consider building an eco-car here a lot of careful research will be conducted.

As things stand I would suggest they will not necessarily like what they see with a rocky economy, a government who couldn't run a piss up in a brewery and a very unstable political situation. At least they are unlikely to be asked for bribes...LOL

Your comments seem reasonable. And the full impact of the rice pledging scheme haven't been felt yet.

And why would VW consider investing here when Malaysia is busting a nut to get big companies to invest, or make more investments there?

Naturally the CEO said the right things about Thailand but they didn't get to be one of the world's major companies by rushing into things so if there's any suggestion they might consider building an eco-car here a lot of careful research will be conducted.

As things stand I would suggest they will not necessarily like what they see with a rocky economy, a government who couldn't run a piss up in a brewery and a very unstable political situation. At least they are unlikely to be asked for bribes...LOL

Your comments seem reasonable. And the full impact of the rice pledging scheme haven't been felt yet.

And why would VW consider investing here when Malaysia is busting a nut to get big companies to invest, or make more investments there?

Malaysia's advantages include:

universal English competency (some more, some less, but all speak it)

no natural disasters like flooding

political stability - no coups

stable multi-faceted economy

federal and state tax rebates for business investing in MY

less corruption

Thailand's advantages include:

greater potential local market 60+ million (TH) to 26 million (MY)

A no-brainer, really

It's funny that this topic should suddenly turn up. Only last week was I talking to a group of Thai people about Carlsberg and big hotel chains.

They were telling me that "Thai businessmen are very clever and ruthless". They invite foreign companies in as partners and learn as much as they can from them and when they have learnt enough they force some kind of break up. After that they start their own business in the same lines.

I hope that VW stay well clear of Thailand.

I have have got this wrong and am happy to be corrected but a couple of years ago a Danish friend told me Carslberg moved out as it was discovered their Thai joint venture partners were siphoning off the beer and bottling as their own product.

Naturally the CEO said the right things about Thailand but they didn't get to be one of the world's major companies by rushing into things so if there's any suggestion they might consider building an eco-car here a lot of careful research will be conducted.

As things stand I would suggest they will not necessarily like what they see with a rocky economy, a government who couldn't run a piss up in a brewery and a very unstable political situation. At least they are unlikely to be asked for bribes...LOL

Your comments seem reasonable. And the full impact of the rice pledging scheme haven't been felt yet.

And why would VW consider investing here when Malaysia is busting a nut to get big companies to invest, or make more investments there?

Malaysia's advantages include:

universal English competency (some more, some less, but all speak it)

no natural disasters like flooding

political stability - no coups

stable multi-faceted economy

federal and state tax rebates for business investing in MY

less corruption

Thailand's advantages include:

greater potential local market 60+ million (TH) to 26 million (MY)

A no-brainer, really

I'm not disagreeing per se... but

English competency is irrelevant - every other manufacturer has already proven that.

You guys still have you fair share of nature

Political stability? hrmmmm..

Thailand is a booming economy - better than one that's just stable no?

BOI incentives in TH are very enticing - probably why they keep coming back for another look.

Less is relative. None would be a better proposition

As for TH advantages, add:

Not just more population, but substantially more new car buyers than just pop. numbers compared.

Very mature supply chains

Very mature export logistics

Tax structures make bottom-end cars more accessible to buyers here.

Advantages you missed for MY are:

Duty free exports to TH under ASEAN

Spare production capacity available from domestic manufacturers

Domestic manufacturers with a history of being outsourced production partners, and specialising in efficient low-volume production.

But, indeed - I can't see VW setting up shop here - after being #1 in China for over 30 years they know every trick in the book, and the fact is, if you're not Asian you'd have to entertain the notion you'll some day be disadvantaged in some way here.

Naturally the CEO said the right things about Thailand but they didn't get to be one of the world's major companies by rushing into things so if there's any suggestion they might consider building an eco-car here a lot of careful research will be conducted.

As things stand I would suggest they will not necessarily like what they see with a rocky economy, a government who couldn't run a piss up in a brewery and a very unstable political situation. At least they are unlikely to be asked for bribes...LOL

Your comments seem reasonable. And the full impact of the rice pledging scheme haven't been felt yet.

And why would VW consider investing here when Malaysia is busting a nut to get big companies to invest, or make more investments there?

Malaysia's advantages include:

universal English competency (some more, some less, but all speak it)

no natural disasters like flooding

political stability - no coups

stable multi-faceted economy

federal and state tax rebates for business investing in MY

less corruption

Thailand's advantages include:

greater potential local market 60+ million (TH) to 26 million (MY)

A no-brainer, really

I'm not disagreeing per se... but

English competency is irrelevant - every other manufacturer has already proven that.

You guys still have you fair share of nature

Political stability? hrmmmm..

Thailand is a booming economy - better than one that's just stable no?

BOI incentives in TH are very enticing - probably why they keep coming back for another look.

Less is relative. None would be a better proposition

As for TH advantages, add:

Not just more population, but substantially more new car buyers than just pop. numbers compared.

Very mature supply chains

Very mature export logistics

Tax structures make bottom-end cars more accessible to buyers here.

Advantages you missed for MY are:

Duty free exports to TH under ASEAN

Spare production capacity available from domestic manufacturers

Domestic manufacturers with a history of being outsourced production partners, and specialising in efficient low-volume production.

But, indeed - I can't see VW setting up shop here - after being #1 in China for over 30 years they know every trick in the book, and the fact is, if you're not Asian you'd have to entertain the notion you'll some day be disadvantaged in some way here.

And in this booming economy it is recognised that people are buying things, such as cars, with money they don't have.

Mr. Klingler is NOT the VW CEO.

He is one of 8 members of the board responsible for sales and marketing.

CEO is Prof. Martin Winterkorn