March 25 - April 1, 2007

Connect with Key Contacts & Explore Automotive Opportunities in Asia’s Two Leading Automotive Markets   

The Commercial Service Automotive Team invites you to explore two of the largest automotive markets in Asia, come with us to Guangzhou, China and Bangkok Thailand. This two-stop matchmaking mission offers a unique opportunity to establish relationships with ideal local partners while learning first-hand the local market trends and conditions.   

The mission program in both stops includes U.S. Embassy briefings on general economic and business practices and private sector industry expert briefings on the automotive markets of China and Thailand.  Each mission company will also have individual sessions arranged for private meetings with pre-qualified local companies who could be potential key contacts in each market. Moreover, the program also includes a menu of sites visits:     

In Guangzhou: Mission members will visit selected auto repair workshops of major market players such as Ford, Honda, Toyota, Land Rover or Jaguar.

In Bangkok:  Mission members will visit the International Motor Show (one of the top three motor shows in Asia) where mission participants will gain exposure to market trends and players in the Thai market.

Additional site visits to meet individual company needs also available.

With China’s enormous potential for growth, U.S. exporters wishing to exploit this market cannot afford to ignore Guangzhou as a place to do business.  It presents an advantageous market opportunity to U.S. automotive exporters.  Second only to Shanghai, Guangzhou is a major automotive manufacturing base and importer of parts and accessories.  Guangzhou hosts more than ten assemblers including Honda, Nissan and Toyota, and about 250 auto parts manufacturers.   The industry manufactured 400,000 cars, buses and light vehicles in 2005, representing 34.2% annual growth. Guangzhou’s vehicle output is expected to surpass one million units by 2010. 

Thailand is a leading destination for any U.S. automotive exporter.  The country is of strategic importance to U.S. automotive exporters as the largest domestic market in the Southeast Asian region, and an assembling base for export of one-ton pickup trucks.  Its domestic market promises potential demand for U.S. automotive exports, while development trends in its automotive industry have important implications to U.S. automotive exporters in other markets around the world.  More than 40 vehicle makes are sold domestically and the market is expected to reach 1 million units in 2010.   As the 14^th largest automotive industry in the world, Thailand hosts fourteen world auto assemblers, including Ford, General Motors, DaimlerChrysler, BMW and all the Japanese automotive companies.  These assemblers and their tier 1 and tier 2 parts suppliers manufacture more than one million vehicles per year both for domestic and export markets around the world.  

Participation Fee: $1400 (Fee includes: Matchmaking meetings, briefings, local transportation, interpreters and welcome receptions in both stops)

Contact: Eduard Roytberg, U.S. Export Assistance Center California, Tel: 909-466-4138, Email Eduard.Roytberg@N0SPAM.mail.doc.gov OR James P. Golsen, Commercial Service Bangkok, Tel:  662-205-5090 Email:  James.Golsen@N0SPAM.mail.doc.gov