Abstract
Automobile makers in ASEAN have changed the export strategies from the inside of ASEAN to the outside of ASEAN since the Asian economic crisis in 1997. ASEAN automobile makers are playing important role in the global automobile market since the global cars produced by ASEAN automobile makers are contributing to world wide market.
The auto parts purchase from ASEAN of the ASEAN automobile makers are increasing significantly. In spite of this fact that auto parts purchase from ASEAN is increasing, “perfect” auto parts complementation may not succeed. The auto parts export of Thailand represents the largest volume in ASEAN, and auto parts export of Thailand in ASEAN is increasing. Thailand plays the most important role in the ASEAN auto parts market. Other countries such as Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia, may lose positions of auto parts supplier in ASEAN, and expansion of the free trade area may result in decreasing the importance of auto parts complementation in ASEAN.
The ASEAN auto parts makers are increasing auto parts export to outside ASEAN every year. Although the expansion of the free trade area in East Asia increases auto parts export from ASEAN, ASEAN will face competitions from China. By supplying their auto parts to India who has huge population and playing a gateway role of auto parts trade from China to India. ASEAN tries to became a hub in the East Asian free trade area.
