# Squeezed Out: Is Thailand’s “Detroit of the East” Losing the EV War to Vietnam?

- Link: https://www.thailand-business-news.com/asean/vietnam/277238-squeezed-out-is-thailands-detroit-of-the-east-losing-the-ev-war-to-vietnam
- Published: 2026-01-09T08:44:00+07:00
- Author: Nguyen Trang

**BANGKOK** – For fifty years, the automotive sector has been the crown jewel of
Thai industry, accounting for roughly **10% of the nation’s GDP**. But as the world
pivots to Electric Vehicles (EVs), Thailand’s traditional dominance is being challenged
by a leaner, faster neighbor.

While Thailand remains the region’s largest auto producer by volume, Vietnam is 
no longer just “catching up”—it is rewriting the rules of the game. Here is a breakdown
of the specific sectors where Thailand’s industrial lead is under the most pressure.

ADVERTISEMENT

### The EV Revolution: VinFast Takes on the Big Three

Thailand’s strategy has been to attract Chinese EV giants (BYD, Great Wall Motor)
to set up shop in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). However, Vietnam has something
Thailand lacks: a national champion.

 * **Vietnam’s Advantage:** VinFast has shown a “Silicon Valley” speed of execution.
   By vertically integrating battery production and software development within 
   Vietnam, they have created a self-sustaining ecosystem. Vietnam’s exports of 
   EVs to the US and Europe give them a global brand footprint that Thailand’s “
   assembly-for-others” model lacks.
 * **Thailand’s Risk:** Thailand is heavily invested in Internal Combustion Engine(
   ICE) infrastructure. As brands like **Honda and Suzuki** scale back Thai production,
   the kingdom faces a “valley of death” where old jobs disappear faster than new
   EV jobs are created.

VinFast, Vietnam’s homegrown electric vehicle manufacturer, has rapidly gained international
attention, positioning itself as a formidable competitor in the global EV market.
This gives Vietnam a distinct advantage in fostering a strong EV ecosystem, as a
national champion can drive domestic innovation, attract investments, and spearhead
export growth. In contrast, Thailand’s reliance on foreign players, while beneficial
for immediate economic gains, may limit the development of its own EV industry in
the long term.

### Electronics: High-End vs. Assembly

In the 1990s, Thailand was a global hub for Hard Disk Drives (HDDs). Today, that
technology is legacy.

### Related**Posts**

###  󠀁[Thailand Business News — Morning Briefing](https://www.thailand-business-news.com/banking/337929-thailand-business-news-morning-briefing-5)󠁿

###  󠀁[ASEAN’s Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA): Key Insights for Foreign Businesses](https://www.thailand-business-news.com/asean/335623-aseans-digital-economy-framework-agreement-defa-key-insights-for-foreign-businesses)󠁿

###  󠀁[Why Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO) matters for the ASEAN market](https://www.thailand-business-news.com/asean/332123-why-generative-engine-optimisation-geo-matters-for-the-asean-market)󠁿

###  󠀁[Can Vietnam Sustain Double-Digit Growth?](https://www.thailand-business-news.com/asean/vietnam/332344-can-vietnam-sustain-double-digit-growth)󠁿

 * **The Shift:** Vietnam has skipped the legacy stage and moved straight into semiconductors
   and high-end smartphones. With **Samsung** producing 50% of its global phones
   in Vietnam and **Apple** moving iPad and MacBook lines to Bac Giang, Vietnam’s
   electronics exports ($165B+) now dwarf Thailand’s ($48B).
 * **The Critical Gap:** Vietnam is aggressively courting **AI chip designers** (
   Nvidia, Marvell). If Thailand cannot pivot from “part assembly” to “wafer testing
   and design,” it risks becoming a secondary player in the digital supply chain.

---

### The “Cost-Competitiveness” Crunch

A comparison of the operational landscape for 2026:

| **Factor** | **Thailand** | **Vietnam** | 
| **Minimum Wage (Daily)** | ~$11 – $13 | ~$6 – $8 | 
| **Electricity Costs** | Rising (Fuel Import Reliance) | Competitive (Rapid Wind/Solar Expansion) | 
| **Trade Agreements** | Slow Progress (EU-FTA in talks) | **EVFTA** (Direct duty-free access to Europe) |

---

### Digital Services and the “Unicorn” Race

Thailand has a vibrant consumer market, but Vietnam is producing more “tech unicorns.”
Vietnam’s software engineering pool is younger and significantly cheaper.

This has made Vietnam an attractive destination for tech startups and investors 
seeking innovation at a lower cost. Meanwhile, Thailand’s consumer market continues
to thrive, driven by its strong tourism sector and growing middle class, positioning
it as a hub for retail and lifestyle industries.

 * **The Threat:** Bangkok is a regional hub for digital nomads, but Hanoi and Ho
   Chi Minh City are becoming the hubs for **coding and R&D**. Thailand’s aging 
   population means a shrinking pool of developers, driving up wages and forcing
   Thai startups to outsource their tech teams to… Vietnam.

### The Path Forward for Thailand

To avoid being eclipsed, analysts suggest Thailand must stop competing on labor 
costs and start competing on **sophistication**.

 1. **Green Energy Sovereignty:** Thailand must lower industrial power costs by accelerating
    its own renewable transition.
 2. **Tier 1 EV Suppliers:** Instead of just assembling cars, Thailand needs to incentivize
    the local production of power electronics and sensors.
 3. **Human Capital:** Radical upskilling of the 40-year-old “automotive workforce”
    to handle digital manufacturing.

> “The window is closing,” says a senior analyst at a Bangkok-based think tank. “
> Vietnam has the momentum of a startup; Thailand has the baggage of a legacy corporation.
> We need a ‘version 2.0’ of our industrial policy, and we need it this year.”