Mission Statement
U.S. Automotive Trade Mission to Southern China & Thailand
March 25-April 1, 2007
Description: The Department of Commerce Automotive Team, in conjunction with the U.S. Commercial Service, will organize a trade mission for exporters of automotive sub-assemblies, parts and accessories to Southern China and Thailand.
Goals: The mission seeks to increase export of U.S. automotive products and services for both the OEMs and the aftermarket into Southern China and Thailand, two strategic markets in Asia. Potential U.S. exporters will explore business opportunities and establish relationships with local partners.
Commercial Setting:
Southern China Market: Guangzhou presents a business opportunity to U.S. exporters of automotive sub-assemblies, parts and accessories. Second only to Shanghai, Guangzhou is a major automotive manufacturing base and large importer of parts and accessories. Guangzhou hosts more than ten foreign manufacturers 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. Moreover, Guangzhou’s imports of parts and accessories in 2005 increased 15.8% and reached a total import value of over US$ 860 million. Guangzhou’s vehicle output is expected to surpass one million units by 2010.
Thailand Market: Thailand is of strategic importance to U.S. automotive exporters as the largest domestic market in the ASEAN region, and an assembling base for export of one-ton pickup trucks. Its domestic market presents opportunities for U.S. exporters of automotive exports sub-assemblies, parts and accessories. Development trends in Thailand’s automotive industry have important implications for U.S. automotive exporters in other markets around the world.
Thailand's open trade and investment policies have made it the largest vehicle manufacturer in Southeast Asia. More than 40 vehicle models are sold domestically and the market is expected to reach 1 million units in 2010. As the 14 th largest automotive producer in the world, Thailand hosts 14 world-class auto assemblers, including Ford, General Motors, Daimler Chrysler, 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 for both domestic and export markets around the world. Consequently, Thailand is strongly recommended as a destination for any U.S. automotive exporter.
Timing: Mission delegation is scheduled to arrive in Guangzhou on Sunday March 25. The official schedule in China begins on Monday, March 26 and ends Tuesday, March 27. The trade mission will travel to Bangkok on Wednesday, March 28 where they will participate in mission activities through Friday, March 30. Mission members will be encouraged to spend time at the International Motor Show during the mission schedule and/or during the following weekend.
Recruitment will begin immediately and will close on February 23, 2007. Participation is open to the first qualified U.S. companies. Applications received after the application deadline will be considered only if space and scheduling constraints permit.
Scenario: The general program for the mission members in both stops includes briefing on country and industry specific matters, one-on-one business appointments with potential local companies and potential
site visits. Schedules will be sufficiently flexible to allow arrangements to be customized at both locations in order to be responsive to the needs and objectives of each company on the mission. The trade mission will include 5-10 companies.
The mission will visit Guangzhou, China and then travel on to Bangkok, Thailand. The mission program includes: a briefing by U.S. Embassy officials on the topic of doing business in these two countries and an overview of the automotive market (sub-assemblies, parts, accessories); one-on-one meetings with local companies (prospective sales agents or buyers) will be scheduled for 1 ½ days at each location. In Guangzhou the trade mission will visit auto repair workshops of major market players such as Ford, Honda, Toyota, Land Rover or Jaguar. In Bangkok, the trade mission will attend the International Motor Show (the second largest motor show in Asia after Japan) where mission participants will gain exposure to market trends and players in the Thai market.
Criteria for Participation: The mission is aimed atU.S. exporters of automotive products and services who are interested in exploring export opportunities in the China and Southeast Asia markets. The applicants must meet the following criteria:
Recruitment will be conducted in an open and public manner, including publication in the Federal Register, posting on the Internet, press releases to the general and trade media. Any partisan political activities of the applicant, including political contributions, will be entirely irrelevant to the selection process.
Participation Fee: $1400 (excludes lodging, transportation and meals.)
Contact:
Wanwemol Charukultharvatch, Commercial Specialist
U.S. Commercial Service
302 3rd Floor Diethelm Tower A
93/1 Wireless Road
Bangkok 10330 Thailand
Phone: 662-205-5272 (DL), 662-205-5090 (Main Line)
Fax: 662-255-2915
Email: wcharuku@mail.doc.gov
OR
Liu Ying, Commercial Specialist
U.S. Commercial Service
China Hotel Office Tower, 14/F
Liuhua Road
Guangzhou 510015 China
Tel: 86-20-8667-4011 ext. 53
Fax: 86-20-866-66409
E-mail: ying.liu@mail.doc.gov