BANGKOK, June 23 (Xinhua) -- CATARC Southeast Asia Testing and Certification Service Co., Ltd. was launched in Bangkok on Monday, aiming to strengthen cooperation between China and Thailand in automotive standards, testing, certification and technological development.
The launch ceremony was held alongside a China-Thailand automotive industry matchmaking conference, which brought together more than 100 representatives from government agencies, industry associations and enterprises from both countries.
China Automotive Technology and Research Center Co., Ltd. (CATARC) is one of China's leading automotive research and technology institutions. The newly established company is CATARC's first subsidiary in Southeast Asia.
Zhou Hua, deputy general manager of CATARC, said the establishment of the Southeast Asia company marks an important step in CATARC's internationalization strategy. The company will promote the alignment of automotive standards across the region, enhance localized consulting and certification services, he added.
The establishment of CATARC's Southeast Asia company in Thailand will further promote cooperation in areas including intelligent driving technologies, standards and certification, and innovation-driven development between the two countries, said Nattapol Rangsitpol, permanent secretary of the Thai Ministry of Industry.
Driven by energy transition and supportive government policies, Thailand's new-energy vehicle market has continued to expand. Over 75,000 battery electric vehicles were newly registered in Thailand during the first four months of 2026, up over 88 percent year on year, according to the Federation of Thai Industries.
Thailand is a major automotive manufacturing hub in Southeast Asia, with a well-established industrial supply chain. Several Chinese automakers have established manufacturing facilities in the country, with total investment exceeding 90 billion baht (about 2.8 billion U.S. dollars), creating more than 120,000 jobs across related industries. ■