Ford acquires Suzuki plant in Thailand to expand regional hub

Ford has reached an agreement to purchase Suzuki's assembly plant in Thailand, marking the Japanese automaker's complete exit from local production. The deal covers a 66-hectare facility in Rayong province and is valued at $3.9 billion, with payments spread over 30 years.

The Suzuki plant opened in 2012 with an annual capacity of up to 80,000 vehicles. Production peaked at around 60,000 units, but by 2024, output had plummeted to just 4,400 units—roughly 5% of its designed capacity. Suzuki attributed its departure to weak demand for small cars, currency factors, and shifting consumer preferences.

This acquisition gives Ford additional space near its existing Thai operations, which already produce the Ranger pickup and Everest SUV. Ford's combined capacity in Thailand exceeds 270,000 vehicles per year, with about 90% of those exported. The new facilities reinforce Thailand as a key regional hub for Ford and support production of models for small businesses.

Against this backdrop, Japanese automakers' share of the Thai market has fallen from roughly 90% to less than 70% over five years, as Chinese brands gain ground. Meanwhile, Ford remains the only U.S. manufacturer with local production in the country following General Motors' exit in 2020.