Auto parts, accessories and so much more at TAPA 2018

MANILA, Philippines — Did you know that Thailand is the 12th largest automobile parts producer in the world? And, in the ASEAN region, Thailand is the leader in the auto parts industry. Being the leader, Thailand has approximately 2,500 autoparts manufacturers that supply the local carmaker companies and export to the global market.

In order to keep abreast of the latest developments, innovations, creations and technology behind the various auto accessories in Thailand, the country plays host to the Thailand Automotive Parts and Accessories (TAPA) four-day fair. TAPA is held once every two years and is a treasure chest of all the latest in the auto parts and accessories in Thailand.

“TAPA 2018 features more than 500 exhibitors who are leading manufacturers, exporters, distributors and sub-contractors from all over the world, and displays a wide range of auto parts such as OEMs and aftermarket parts and auto accessories,” said Sakon Varanyuwatana, Vice Minister of Commerce, at the opening of Thailand Automotive Parts and Accessories 2018 (TAPA 2018) in Bangkok, Thailand.

This year, TAPA 2018 had for its theme, “World Auto Parts Sourcing Hub: Innovation Clean for the Future.” The four-day event was a joint project of the Department of International Trade Promotion, Ministry of Commerce, in collaboration with Thai Auto Parts Manufacturers Association, and related organizations in the private and government sectors.

As in the past years, TAPA 2018 served as an international trade arena that put the spotlight on Thailand as a significant sourcing hub of auto parts and accessories in Asia and beyond.

 “It is already known that Thailand is ASEAN’s leader in the automotive industry and we have expertise and high standards of production in the auto parts and accessories industry,” said Sakon Varanyuwatana, Vice Minister of Commerce at the opening of TAPA 2018 in BITEC, Bangkok. “These industries play a crucial part in the country’s economy. Thailand now ranks the 12th largest automobile manufacturer in the world and we are ASEAN’s leader in the auto parts industry. The automobile and auto parts export value in 2017 reaches $34,334.07 million, a 5.83 percent increase from 2016, which contributes approximately 5.8 percent of the country’s GDP.”

Keep on pickup truckin’: Wira Lapjatuporn, deputy managing director of Thai company Aeroklas

TAPA 2018 serves as a trade arena where Thailand presents its newest products and innovations in the auto parts and accessories industry. The fair also focused on the future development of automobile industry as it gears towards a new era of sustainability and green innovation, which requires high-energy, low-emission vehicles, especially electric and hybrid vehicles.

Accessories and parts as far as the eye could see

TAPA 2018 was a gathering of over 500 exhibitors, which included top manufacturers, exporters, distributors and sub-contractors from Thailand as well as other parts of the world. The displays, although quite technical, as far as car parts and accessories go, was a display of a wide range of auto parts such as OEMs (original equipment manufacturer) and aftermarket parts, auto accessories as well as the other related products and services.

As I wandered through the exhibition hall, quite a number of manufacturers of auto parts captivated me.

A view of the orad: CC TV cameras for cars

I will admit that the experience at TAPA 2018 is very different from that of attending an auto show, where the newest, most innovative and coolest cars are on display. 

At TAPA 2018, as I walked around the fairgrounds, although the only dressed up vehicles I saw were pickup trucks (Thailand’s No. 1 vehicle on the road), I was drawn to how the latest advancements in technology have made their way into the way car parts development.

I was immediately captivated by how the CCTV cameras for the cars have grown smaller, and yet capture a wider view of the inside as well as outside of a car radius.

“It is because there is a lot of new advancement in technology that these CCTV cameras are being developed and made more accurate for use in cars,” said the salesman at the booth. “This technology advancement allows smaller cameras to take better videos and wider views of the roads ahead as the car travels.” 

Pickup accessories that Aeroklas exports to the Philippines

Aside from CCTV cameras, there were a whole slew of auto parts ranging from sparkplugs to suspension systems, tie rods, filters and just about anything that goes into making a car run smoothly on display and for demo, if one wanted that.  Yet, what did not escape my eye were the many dressed-up pickups on display.

“Pickup trucks make up about 50 percent of vehicles on the road here in Thailand,” said Wira Lapjatuporn, deputy managing director of Thai company Aeroklas, which produces accessories for pickups like bedcovers, bed-liners, and toolboxes, among others. “We also own TJM, which manufactures accessories like front bumper, side protection, suspension, shock absorbers and camping equipment for 4X4s, among other accessories.”

Wira shared with me that his company has been doing business in the Philippines for over 10 years as a supplier for pickup truck accessories. “The Philippines is a good market for us because Filipinos love to dress up their pickups,” Wira said. “The Philippines does not have such a big pickup market, I estimate that about 10 percent of vehicles on the road there is about 10 percent.”

Author Kathy Moran and her own ride at TAPA 2018

Proud of the full plastic pickup beds, covers, steps, Wira believes that Aeroklas is No. 1 in the Philippines. He added that they make these pickup accessories for Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi and Ford.

“The bed-liner is the biggest import for pickup trucks from us,” he shared. “Bed-liner and tool box are next.”

Two months ago, Aeroklas introduced its side step for pickup trucks into the market. Wira believes that the Philippines will also be a good market for this accessory.

“It is important to make accessories light, this is why we chose plastic,” added Wira. “If the pickup is light, it consumes less fuel. And that is a primary concern for our customers — whether here in Thailand or in the Philippines.”

Pickup camper by TJM for lovers of the outdoors

Before I left the display area of Aeroklas, Wira gave me a demo as to how his company was able to develop a smooth closing system of the back cover of the pickup bed. The back door no longer slams shut; it glides into a closing position with the use of shock absorbers. Cool.

It is no wonder that the statistics from the Thailand’s Department of International Trade and Promotion (DITP) shows that the auto parts export to the Philippines has been growing each year. There were +7.13 percent in 2014, +4.56 percent in 2015, +17.55 percent in 2016 and +29.07 percent last year. This is a result from the booming of automotive industry in the Philippines.

The Philippines is the 8th largest market for Thailand in the world, and the third biggest in South East Asia after Indonesia and Malaysia.

10,000 visitors

At the end of the four-day fair, TAPA 2018 attracted over 10,000 visitors from ASEAN, South Asia, Australia, Africa, South America, EU, the Middle East, China, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, etc. Exciting activities at TAPA 2018 include exhibitions and product showcase from leading automobile and parts manufacturers, which present cutting-edge technologies in automobile and parts. There were seminars on topics including Auto Parts Industry in Eastern Economic Corridor: EEC, EV Research Trend, Industry Talk: The Perspective in Clean Energy Trend, Key Concern in EV Market in Business Perspective and Voice of Green Consumer.

It is no wonder TAPA has developed such a large following and interest among the markets it supplies. After all, just as important as it is that one have a good vehicle, the parts and accessories that go into making the vehicle run and look even better are equally as important. And, Thailand is a developer of autoparts that has been growing in its reputations as among one of the best countries in the world in this industry.

A whole slew of autoparts

“TAPA is a major event that shines the spotlight on Thailand as a significant world’s production base as well as a sourcing hub of auto parts and accessories in Asia,” added Varanyuwatana. “It also focuses on the future development of automobile industry that gears towards a new era of sustainability and green innovation, which requires high energy with low emission vehicles, especially electric and hybrid vehicles.”