Reflecting on “Navigating New Perspectives on the EV Industry in Thailand & Southeast Asia” on June 25, 2025 at STIPI, Bangkok
Last week, STIPI had the pleasure of co-hosting a small but meaningful international workshop in Bangkok, co-organised by School Of East Asian Studies University Of Sheffield and the Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Institute STIPI KMUTT. Our roundtable brought together academics, policymakers, labour economists, and industry leaders to explore the complex transition toward electric mobility in Thailand and the wider Southeast Asian region.
This was one of the rare occasions where experts from diverse sectors government, academia, think tanks, and industry came together to have an open and critical discussion about the direction of EV policy in the country/region. The diversity of perspectives enriched our dialogue and surfaced real tensions, trade-offs, and opportunities shaped by and also shaping the country’s economy and society.
Together, we unpacked urgent questions such as:
How can EV policies better support domestic suppliers and workers, not just attract FDI?
What does a just transition look like for workers in traditional auto sectors?
Can smaller economies shape EV futures amid global technological disruptions?
How do foreign/domestic big firms influence national policy design and what does that mean for local capability building?All spanning from industrial policy to labour, value chains, trade and diplomacy, growing inequality and household debts, energy, skills and training, and more!
What stood out most was the shared commitment to framing success not just in terms of production numbers or exports, but in terms of equity, sustainability, and inclusive growth. This includes prioritising decent, future-ready transition and ensuring that no community is left behind.
A huge thank you to our collaborators —Dr. Kahee Jo, Jettawat Pravat and all the participants— for your thoughtful contributions and energy. Excited for the follow-up research and potential collaborations ahead!
