EVAT Joins Panel on New Models for Regional Economic and Trade Cooperation

On April 2, 2026, Mr. Suroj Sangsnit, President of the Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand (EVAT), was invited to join an international panel titled “Exploring New Models for Regional Economic and Trade Cooperation.” The session was part of the 2026 World New Energy Vehicle Conference (Thailand Session) under the theme “Transportation Transformation and Sustainable Development.” The event was organized by the World New Energy Vehicle Development Organization and the China Society of Automotive Engineers, in partnership with the Thailand Automotive Institute (TAI) and the Thai Society of Automotive Engineers (TSAE).

The panel brought together representatives from industry and related agencies to discuss cooperation pathways for the new energy vehicle industry among Thailand, China, and the ASEAN region. It served as an open platform for government bodies, professional organizations, entrepreneurs, and experts to exchange views on the direction of new energy vehicle development, the transition to low-carbon transportation, and regional economic and trade cooperation. Key topics included policy support, market status and trends, supply chain collaboration, and automotive technology innovation.

Mr. Suroj stated: “ASEAN should not be seen merely as a destination market for electric vehicles. Instead, it should be positioned as a strategic region for creating new markets, new standards, and new models of cooperation in the future automotive industry. Thailand has significant potential as the region’s automotive production base and can connect investment, technology, supply chain development, and human resource upgrading to support systematic and continuous industry growth.”

EVAT emphasized that long-term development of the new energy vehicle industry requires close cooperation from all sectors—government, private sector, research institutes, and professional organizations—to jointly drive investment, technology transfer, domestic and regional supply chain development, and workforce preparation for the future industry. The event attracted significant attention from Chinese stakeholders involved in modern automotive development in Thailand and ASEAN, including entrepreneurs and investors of Chinese descent. EVAT used this platform to exchange perspectives with various agencies and enterprises, and to foster collaborations that will benefit the future growth of Thailand’s and ASEAN’s new energy vehicle industry.