The Thailand Automotive Institute (TAI) is gearing up to strengthen the country's car and parts industry by facilitating business matching opportunities at the upcoming 2026 Automotive Summit.
The event, themed "Smart Mobility -- Smarter is the Future", will be co-organised with RX BITEC (Thailand) and aims to connect companies with buyers, suppliers and investors to boost revenue streams.
Varaporn Dhamcharee, managing director of RX BITEC (Thailand), said the summit will provide both on-site and digital platforms for participants to hold business-to-business meetings, explore partnerships and expand professional networks.
"We expect business matching to generate over 30 deals worth more than 1 million baht," she said.
Last year's summit attracted more than 700 participants, while attendance this year is projected to rise to 900.
The event will take place from June 17-18 at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre.
Kriengsak Wongpromrat, president of TAI, said the summit will showcase smart mobility innovations, electric vehicle (EV) technologies and strategies for achieving greener automotive production.
"This event will help Thailand's automotive industry and supply chains access the global market, while enabling international carmakers, especially EV producers, to meet suppliers from many countries," he said.
The summit also aims to prepare Thai entrepreneurs for emerging opportunities and challenges in the rapidly evolving automotive sector.
According to TAI, Thailand continues to hold a strong position as the world's 11th-largest automotive producer and 5th in Asia.
Industry data highlights the sector's resilience. In the first quarter of 2026, car production rose 5% year-on-year to 370,000 units, driven by a 19% surge in domestic sales. Exports, however, slipped 2% due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
In 2025, total production reached 1.45 million units, down slightly by 1% from the previous year. EVs accounted for more than 20% of output, with domestic sales climbing to 620,000 units -- 44% of which were EVs -- while exports fell 9% to 927,000 units.
