The Board of Investment (BOI) has approved Isuzu's additional investment of 15 billion baht in Thailand to improve and upgrade the pickup truck production base. This includes installing automation and robotic systems alongside investments in clean energy and product development to meet Euro 6 standards.
On 7 Apr 2026 GMT+7, Mr. Narut Terdsathiensak, Secretary-General of the BOI, stated that the project evaluation committee, authorized by the BOI board, approved investment promotion for two projects submitted by Isuzu Motors (Thailand) Co., Ltd. under automotive industry upgrading measures, with a total value exceeding 15 billion baht.
The investment aims to enhance the production base in Thailand, Isuzu’s main global production and export hub, by incorporating automation and robotics into production lines and upgrading pickup truck manufacturing technology to meet Euro 6 standards, while increasing the use of clean energy in factories.
For this investment, the company will improve production lines to increase efficiency through automation and robotics in key manufacturing processes, including:
- Frame welding
- Body assembly welding
- Painting
- Complete vehicle assembly
These upgrades will enhance efficiency and precision, reduce costs, and raise production standards. Additionally, the company will invest in installing solar power systems to boost clean energy use in factories and develop products compliant with the stringent global Euro 6 emission standards, which regulate vehicle pollution.
In particular, the Euro 6 standard reduces nitrogen oxides and fine particulate matter (PM) emissions. This standard not only lessens environmental and public health impacts but also significantly enhances the competitiveness of Thai manufacturers in global markets, especially in regions prioritizing environmental standards such as Europe and other developed countries.
Isuzu Motors (Thailand) Co., Ltd. is a leading manufacturer of pickup trucks and commercial vehicles in Thailand and has played a key role in developing the Thai automotive industry. The company first invested in truck production in Thailand in 1963 and has since expanded continuously.
The company relocated pickup truck production from Japan to Thailand in 2002 and later moved pickup truck research and development to Thailand in 2010, establishing Thailand as Isuzu’s most important global base for pickup truck production and R&D. Currently, it operates two vehicle assembly plants:
1. Samrong Plant in Samut Prakan Province
2. Gateway Plant in Chachoengsao Province
These plants have a combined production capacity of 385,000 pickups and heavy trucks per year, employ over 6,000 people, and utilize more than 90% domestically produced parts, reflecting the strength of Thai parts manufacturers and the deep integration of the domestic automotive supply chain. The automotive and parts industry is a major sector of Thailand’s economy.
Including the entire supply chain, the industry accounts for over 10% of Thailand’s GDP and is a crucial employment base, with more than 2,500 companies and over 800,000 workers involved in the supply chain.
This encompasses vehicle manufacturers, parts producers, supporting industries, and dealers. In 2025, Thailand produced over 1.45 million vehicles and exported more than 935,000 complete vehicles, underscoring Thailand’s role as a key global automotive production and export hub amid the transition to modern automotive technologies.
Mr. Narut added that the BOI continues to support upgrading the automotive industry through investments to improve production efficiency using automation, robotics, and digital technology, developing skilled personnel in new technologies,
and advancing automotive products that comply with international environmental and safety standards. The BOI also promotes the shift toward electric vehicles to transform Thailand’s automotive industry into a modern sector utilizing highly efficient and environmentally friendly technologies.