Tyre R&D unit top priority in Thailand’s planned automotive testing centre

Tyre-R&DThe government of Thailand is investing 3.74 billion Baht for the construction of the first-ever automotive testing centre in the country as part of the preparation for the ambitious policy to make electric vehicles locally.

According to Suthon Nikomkate, director of the Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI), the 3.74-billion Baht budget would be divided in two phases – 800 million Baht for a tyre testing track, and 2.94 billion Baht for six car testing tracks and consultants’ fee.

Suthon said the R&D unit for tyres is the top priority because the government aims to upgrade the country’s rubber industry and increase rubber prices.

At present, there are 6 million farmers in the rubber sector. The government expects to increase tyre production from the current 530,000 tonnes per year to 1 million tonnes in the near future.

Thailand can produce all tyres now except flat tyres which require high technology, said Suthon.

According to the automotive testing centre’s master plan, the government would invest 3.74 billion Baht during 2016-2020 out of the total 4.54 billion Baht approved by the cabinet in June 2015, leaving the remaining 800 million Baht for the centre’s future development.

All facilities will be located on an industrial estate in Chachoengsao’s Sanam Chai Khet district that covers 1,235 rai (approximately 494 acres).

“Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha himself has ordered the establishment of the long-delayed automotive testing centre be sped up to comply with the Thailand 4.0 policy that focuses on innovation and high technology,” said Suthon.”The government is also very keen to develop a national research and development (R&D) unit to upgrade the automotive and auto parts industry to maintain the country’s competitiveness,” he added.

Nattapol Rangsitpol, inspector-general of the Industry Ministry,said the testing centre will help empower Thailand’s auto industry to become an Asean hub not only for manufacturing but also for R&D.

The Industry Ministry aims the national testing centre to provide a New Car Assessment Programme tasked with evaluating new designs for safety performance, for all automotive standards from the US, Australia, Europe and Japan.

Six testing tracks are now being planned and TISI expects to start construction by 2018, according to Suthon.The automotive testing centre should be finished by June 2019 and become operational by early 2020, he said.

The tyre testing track, which will have with a quality on par with the United Nation’s (UN) R-117 standard, will start construction in May 2017 and be finished a year later.