Part 11/16:
Chinese automakers are not only entering Thailand's market but also establishing local manufacturing facilities. BYD's $490 million automotive plant in Rayong is a testament to China's strategic push into Southeast Asia, aiming to produce 150,000 electric vehicles annually and export across ASEAN. While this investment promises jobs and technological knowledge transfer, the rapidly automating nature of EV manufacturing—reliant on robotics and AI—means fewer jobs are created than lost.