New plant of Joint Venture Purem Aapico in Thailand

Esslingen (Germany) / Rayong (Thailand), 12 October 2023 – Just two days after starting operations in Malaysia, the Joint Venture partners Purem by Eberspaecher and AAPICO Hitech celebrate another milestone: The official opening of the new plant in Rayong, Thailand. The production site, located 100 kilometers southeast of Bangkok, will deliver exhaust systems for a pick-up truck of a leading US automotive manufacturer.

The new plant stretches over 3,000 square meters and was built in only five months on AAPICO´s Rayong campus. About 150 employees will produce passenger car exhaust systems. They will be used in a major pick-up truck platform of a leading US automotive manufacturer. As the market in Thailand for exhaust systems is growing, the plant has a yearly capacity of 300,000 systems for clean mobility. The products will be served for the local as well as international market and therefore comply to the strict emission legislation norms in like Euro 6 and CARB - LEV III or EPA - TIER 3. Thailand is one of the world’s leading automotive manufacturers, ranking 10th in 2022 with a total car production of 1.88 million units. For 2023, the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) forecasts that Thailand’s car production will reach 1.9 million units, which is a promising market for vehicle exhaust systems. 

Martin Peters, Managing Partner of the Eberspaecher Group, highlighted: “It is impressive to see how successful this new partnership develops. Purem by Eberspaecher’s expertise in technological industrialization meets the local market know-how of AAPICO Hitech. I am very proud of the joint Asian team to celebrate this milestone and open this plant together.” Purem by Eberspaecher is growing with over 7,100 employees for clean mobility around the globe. “With the two new sites we opened – earlier this week in Malaysia and today Thailand – we are able to manufacture our products now in 19 countries. This shows how our footprint for clean mobility is constantly expanding”, Martin Peters added. 

“AAPICO is so proud to have Purem by Eberspaecher as its partner in Thailand. It is one of the largest global exhaust manufacturers of high quality and standards. This factory will be able to supply to other OEMs, further reinforcing Thailand as the Detroit of Asia”, said Yeap Swee Chuan, President & CEO of AAPICO Hitech PLC.

Two days ago, the joint venture partners already opened their first new plant in Malaysia. In Rawang, 20 kilometers northwest of Kuala Lumpur about 100 employees produce exhaust systems for a leading Asian automotive manufacturer: Joint Venture company Purem Aapico opens new plant in Malaysia.
 

Global Media Contact: 
Anja Kaufer
Vice President Corporate Communications 
Eberspächer Group
Phone: +49 711 939-0250
press@eberspaecher.com

Media Contact AAPICO Hitech Public Company Limited:
Pocharee Busrathepkul
Senior Financial Controller and Head of Investor Relations
AAPICO Hitech PLC.
Phone: +66 2 613-1504
ir@aapico.com

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About Purem by Eberspaecher:
Purem by Eberspaecher is a subsidiary of the Esslingen-based Eberspaecher Group. To achieve clean and quiet mobility, more than 7,100 employees develop and produce exhaust and acoustic systems for passenger cars, CVs, and off-road vehicles. The technologies make a significant contribution to meeting the strictest emission standards and noise guidelines. Its customer base includes the world’s leading vehicle manufacturers. In 2022, the area within the group of companies generated revenue of around 5.7 billion euros. Net revenue adjusted for transitory items amounted to 1.9 billion euros.

About AAPICO Hitech PLC:
AAPICO Hitech Public Company Limited, founded by Yeap Swee Chuan, was established in 1996 and was listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand in 2002. The Company is comprised of 3 business pillars: the OEM Auto Parts Manufacturing Business, the Car Dealership Business, and the IoT Connectivity & Mobility Business. As of today, the Group comprises 48 subsidiaries and associate companies, of which 33 companies are operating in Thailand and 15 companies are located overseas. The Company’s main business initially was to design, produce, and install car assembly jigs and stamping dies; and to manufacture OEM automotive parts, including floor parts, cross members, pillars, brackets, clips, and fuel tanks for leading automobile assemblers in Thailand. The Company has since progressed by adding the production of chassis frame components, forging parts, machining parts, casting parts, plastic parts and plastic fuel tanks to its manufacturing portfolio. Revenue for 2022 was USD 800 million* with 5,400 employees. (*Remarks the exchange rate 1 USD = 35.5 THB)

About Eberspaecher:
With approximately 10,700 employees at 80 locations worldwide, the Eberspaecher Group is one of the automotive industry’s leading system developers and suppliers. The family business, headquartered in Esslingen am Neckar, stands for innovative solutions in exhaust technology, automotive electronics and thermal management for a broad range of vehicle types. In combustion or hybrid engines and in e-mobility, the components and systems from Eberspaecher ensure greater comfort, higher safety and a clean environment. Eberspaecher is paving the way for future technologies such as mobile and stationary fuel cell applications, synthetic fuels as well as the use of hydrogen as an energy carrier. In 2022, the Group generated revenue of around 6.4 billion euros. Net revenue adjusted for transitory items amounted to 2.7 billion euros.