Thai PM Anutin Meets Japanese PM Kishida on EV Investment
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul met former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to discuss electric‑vehicle investment and the impact of EV imports on domestic production. Anutin urged Japanese automakers to use Thailand as a base for EV manufacturing, emphasizing technology transfer, workforce development and clean‑energy cooperation to support a low‑carbon transition. The talks also highlighted the upcoming 140th anniversary of Thai‑Japanese relations and plans to deepen bilateral economic ties.
Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, met former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, a member of the House of Representatives from the Liberal Democratic Party, during Kishida’s visit to Thailand. The talks focused on maintaining the strength of Thailand’s automotive industry as it transitions to electric vehicles. Anutin listened to concerns that rising EV imports could hurt domestic production, outlined excise‑tax measures for imported EVs, and reiterated the government’s policy to promote local EV manufacturing while safeguarding existing production bases to protect employment and competitiveness. He also urged Japanese automakers to include Thailand in their EV supply chains to build on longstanding cooperation, attract investment, facilitate technology transfer, and develop a skilled workforce for the future automotive sector.
The automotive industry remains a key pillar of Thailand’s economy, with Japanese manufacturers playing a continuous role in investment, employment, and industrial development. The government therefore prioritises maintaining investor confidence while restructuring production to adopt new technologies. Both sides also discussed cooperation on energy transition, with Japan pledging to share clean‑energy technology to help Thailand expand renewable‑energy use, improve energy efficiency, and cut greenhouse‑gas emissions, supporting a long‑term shift to a low‑carbon economy.
Anutin noted that 2027 will mark the 140th anniversary of Thai‑Japanese diplomatic relations, offering an opportunity to deepen political, economic, trade and investment ties, including royal‑level cooperation. He also mentioned meeting the ‘Team Thailand’ delegation during a stopover in Japan before attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York to discuss ways to boost economic, trade and investment collaboration between the two countries.
