After a media preview day, the doors to one of Southeast Asia's most prominent auto shows will officially open tomorrow, on 22 March 2023. And when they do, visitors will be greeted to a vast array of bikes and cars showcased by over 40 different brands on a sprawling space covering 60,000 square metres.
We are, of course, talking about the latest Bangkok International Motor Show (BIMS), taking place between 22 March and 2 April 2023, at Challenger Halls 1-3, IMPACT Muang Thong Thani.
Around 40 car and bike brands are exhibiting at the Show - across an area of 170,000 square metres The 44th iteration of the Show kicks things into gear under the concept of "Colourful Experience" - which is said to have been chosen in order to "reflect a variety of experiences through the endless development of automotive technology".
Electric vehicles (EVs), in particular, have been specifically singled out, even as the Show's organisers acknowledge that they herald in the coming of a new era. The EV market in Thailand is expected to grow even more rapidly this year, given that consumers are now more familiar and better acquainted with the technology.
As for who those 40 brands include, visitors can look forward to an extremely international lineup spanning the reaches of Europe to China.
The Show will see luxury and performance brands lining up alongside those targeted at the mass market In alphabetical order, the car brands include - and take a deep breath now - Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, BMW, BYD, Ford, Great Wall Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Isuzu, Jeep, Kia, Lexus, Maserati, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, MG, MINI, Mitsubishi Motors, NETA, Nissan, Peugeot, Porsche, Rolls-Royce, Subaru Suzuki, Toyota, and Volvo.
As with previous shows here, bikes will also feature heavily, with the following brands putting up booths at the exhibition centre: Alpha Volantis, BMW Motorrad, Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Suzuki Motosales, Thai Honda Manufacturing, Triumph and Yamaha.
Unlike the Singapore Motor Show, commercial vehicles will also form a key part of the displays too, with the presence of Hyundai Bus & Truck, and showcases by Toyota regarding the future of carbon-neutral goods vehicles.
EVs are once more featuring heavily in the Show, even as the market warms up to them After a rough couple of years that saw supply chain disruptions and more subdued crowds caused by the pandemic, Chairman of the 44th BIMS, Dr. Prachin Eamlumnow, voiced his faith in a return to normalcy Thailand's car industry. An increase in domestic car and motorcycle production has been anticipated, even as the parts shortage situation on assembly lines gradually improves.
Despite noting the recent rise in direct sales by brands through online channels, Vice Chairman of the 44th BIMS, Mr. Jaturont Komolmis, also expressed his enthusiasm about the irreplaceable tangibility of the up-close experiences provided by auto shows.
"For this reason, Bangkok International Motor Show still holds its uniqueness, which is not just being a special modernized automotive show; it is also an event that creates a greater liveliness and vibes in the market."
Visitors can also look forward to seeing special one-off concepts up close (Toyota THAI TAXI pictured) Other highlights of the 44th BIMS include the return of sim racing for attendees, following a pandemic-induced hiatus. Dubbed 'e-Racing' at the Show, a dedicated zone with eight simulator rigs. The Show is partnering with Polyphony Digital, creator of the Gran Turismo series, to organise the 2023 Gran Turismo Pro Series Thailand Championship, which will be held during the event.
As a means of extending its virtual reach (that, in turn, should also engage younger audiences), the Show's organisers are also working with TikTok Thailand and Media Intelligence for content creation over the two weeks.
As with previous Shows, the 44th BIMS is expected to bring a healthy boost to the Thai economy estimated at around S$1.95 billion (50 billion Baht).
Stay tuned for some of our personal highlights from the 44th BIMS!
We are, of course, talking about the latest Bangkok International Motor Show (BIMS), taking place between 22 March and 2 April 2023, at Challenger Halls 1-3, IMPACT Muang Thong Thani.
Electric vehicles (EVs), in particular, have been specifically singled out, even as the Show's organisers acknowledge that they herald in the coming of a new era. The EV market in Thailand is expected to grow even more rapidly this year, given that consumers are now more familiar and better acquainted with the technology.
As for who those 40 brands include, visitors can look forward to an extremely international lineup spanning the reaches of Europe to China.
As with previous shows here, bikes will also feature heavily, with the following brands putting up booths at the exhibition centre: Alpha Volantis, BMW Motorrad, Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Suzuki Motosales, Thai Honda Manufacturing, Triumph and Yamaha.
Unlike the Singapore Motor Show, commercial vehicles will also form a key part of the displays too, with the presence of Hyundai Bus & Truck, and showcases by Toyota regarding the future of carbon-neutral goods vehicles.
Despite noting the recent rise in direct sales by brands through online channels, Vice Chairman of the 44th BIMS, Mr. Jaturont Komolmis, also expressed his enthusiasm about the irreplaceable tangibility of the up-close experiences provided by auto shows.
"For this reason, Bangkok International Motor Show still holds its uniqueness, which is not just being a special modernized automotive show; it is also an event that creates a greater liveliness and vibes in the market."
As a means of extending its virtual reach (that, in turn, should also engage younger audiences), the Show's organisers are also working with TikTok Thailand and Media Intelligence for content creation over the two weeks.
As with previous Shows, the 44th BIMS is expected to bring a healthy boost to the Thai economy estimated at around S$1.95 billion (50 billion Baht).
Stay tuned for some of our personal highlights from the 44th BIMS!
