Thailand's automotive industry faces a critical transition as it shifts toward new technologies. The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) Chairman advocates a balanced approach: maintaining Thailand's existing manufacturing base—particularly pickup trucks with 80–90% local content—while upgrading to future vehicle tech. Three priorities emerge: preserve competitiveness of the legacy base during transition; accelerate SME access to capital, tech, and new supply chains through investment incentives and technology transfer; and ensure investment policies balance old-industry competitiveness with new-industry support. Success depends on leveraging Thailand's strong existing ecosystem while building regional auto hub credentials sustainably.