AutoAlliance Thailand
AutoAlliance Thailand is a Ford–Mazda joint-venture vehicle assembly company based in Rayong, Thailand.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
AutoAlliance Thailand, also known as Auto Alliance Co., Ltd. or AAT, is a vehicle assembly joint venture owned by Ford Motor Company and Mazda. Its principal manufacturing complex is located in Rayong province in Thailand's Eastern Seaboard industrial region. The company was established to provide Ford and Mazda with a shared manufacturing base in Thailand, particularly for pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles, and selected passenger vehicles intended for the Thai market and export destinations. AAT was modeled in part on the Ford–Mazda AutoAlliance International operation in Flat Rock, Michigan. Its production site was designed with features influenced by Mazda's Hofu plant in Japan and uses a layout organized around four interconnected square areas. Construction began on 28 November 1995. The facility entered mass production on 29 May 1998, followed by an official opening ceremony on 1 July 1998 attended by Chuan Leekpai, then prime minister of Thailand. The venture built on much older Ford and Mazda activities in Thailand. Ford products had been sold in the country since 1913, while local Ford assembly began in the early 1960s through Thai-related distribution and assembly operations. Ford brought Thai Motor under its corporate umbrella in 1973 but closed that plant three years later. Ford returned to the Thai market in 1985 through New Era Company. Mazda had exported utility vehicles to Thailand since 1950 and established a local knock-down assembly presence through Sukosol & Mazda Motor Industry in the 1970s. Since beginning production, AAT has been especially associated with Ford and Mazda pickup trucks. The Ford Ranger entered AAT production in 1998 and the Ford Everest followed in 2003. Mazda's locally produced portfolio expanded from the B-Series pickup and BT-50 to passenger and crossover models including the Mazda2, Mazda3, CX-3, and CX-30. Several models were produced for limited periods or later transferred to other Ford or Mazda facilities, including the Ford Laser, Mazda 323 Protégé, Ford Fiesta, and Mazda BT-50. AAT operates within a wider Ford manufacturing footprint in Thailand. Ford Thailand Manufacturing, a separate Ford plant located approximately 14 kilometres from AAT, opened in 2012 with stated annual capacity of 150,000 vehicles. That plant initially assembled passenger vehicles and later added Ranger production, while AAT continued as a major Ford–Mazda shared facility. In December 2021, Ford announced a planned investment of US$900 million to modernize both the Ford Thailand Manufacturing and AutoAlliance Thailand plants. AAT's role is therefore broader than that of a conventional consumer-facing marque: it is primarily an industrial manufacturing platform supporting vehicle production, regional supply chains, and exports under the Ford and Mazda brands.
History
AutoAlliance Thailand emerged from the long but discontinuous development of Ford and Mazda manufacturing in Thailand. Ford vehicles had been sold in Thailand since 1913, and local assembly activity began in the early 1960s. Ford's local distributor, Anglo-Thai Motors Company, had announced plans for a Thai factory, leading to the creation of Thai Motor Company. That operation assembled Ford Capri and Cortina vehicles from components sourced from the United Kingdom and is generally identified as an early example of automobile production in Thailand. Ford later brought Thai Motor into its corporate structure in 1973, but the facility was closed in 1976. Mazda's Thai history followed a different path. Mazda had exported utility vehicles to Thailand from 1950, and in 1974 Sukosol & Mazda Motor Industry was formed. The company opened Mazda's first Thai knock-down assembly plant in 1975. Ford re-established a commercial presence in Thailand in 1985 through New Era Company, which sold cars and trucks in the country. These earlier sales, distribution, and assembly activities created the industrial and commercial background for a more integrated Ford–Mazda manufacturing venture. The AutoAlliance project was conceived as a Thai counterpart to the Ford–Mazda AutoAlliance International joint venture in Flat Rock, Michigan. Construction of the Rayong facility began on 28 November 1995. The plant's design drew on Mazda manufacturing practices, including similarities to Mazda's Hofu plant, and was arranged as four squares. This layout supported a broad integrated assembly process and was suited to the production of vehicles for both domestic sales and export. AAT began mass production on 29 May 1998. Its official opening ceremony took place on 1 July 1998 and was attended by Chuan Leekpai, then prime minister of Thailand. The company initially produced Ford Ranger and Mazda B-Series pickup trucks, alongside selected Ford and Mazda passenger vehicles. The Ford Ranger remained a central AAT product from 1998 onward, while the Ford Everest sport utility vehicle was added in 2003. Mazda later introduced the BT-50 pickup at the plant, with production continuing there until 2020. During the 2000s and 2010s, AAT broadened its output. The Ford Laser and Mazda 323 Protégé were produced from 1999 to 2002. Ford Fiesta production at AAT ran from 2010 to 2012, and Mazda2 production began in 2009. Mazda3 production began in 2010, followed by the Mazda CX-3 in 2015 and the Mazda CX-30 in 2019. These programs positioned the Rayong facility as a producer not only of pickups but also of compact cars and crossovers. AAT became part of a larger Ford production network in Thailand when Ford Thailand Manufacturing opened a separate plant in Rayong in 2012. Located about 14 kilometres from AAT, the facility was designed with stated annual capacity of 150,000 vehicles and supported body assembly, painting, trim, and final assembly. It initially produced passenger cars such as the Fiesta, Focus, and EcoSport, but passenger-car production ended there in 2018. Ranger production began at the second plant in 2016. The two-plant network increased Ford's manufacturing capacity in Thailand and supported exports, with Thailand serving as a regional production base. In December 2021, Ford announced a US$900 million modernization program covering both Ford Thailand Manufacturing and AutoAlliance Thailand. AAT's continuing industrial importance lies in its shared Ford–Mazda ownership, its concentration on high-volume pickup and SUV programs, and its role in connecting Thai manufacturing with Southeast Asian, Australian, and other developing-market distribution networks.
- 2021
Ford announces Thai plant modernization
[1]Ford announced a US$900 million investment to modernize AAT and Ford Thailand Manufacturing.
- 2019
Mazda CX-30 production begins
[1]AAT began producing the Mazda CX-30.
- 2015
Mazda CX-3 production begins
[1]The Mazda CX-3 was added to AAT's crossover production portfolio.
- 2012
Ford Thailand Manufacturing opens
[1]Ford opened a separate Rayong plant approximately 14 kilometres from AAT.
- 2009
Mazda2 production begins
[1]The Mazda2 joined AAT's locally assembled model range.
- 2003
Ford Everest production begins
[1]AAT added the Ford Everest sport utility vehicle to its production program.
- 1998
AAT starts mass production
[1]The Rayong plant began mass production on 29 May and held its official opening on 1 July.
- 1995
Construction of the AAT plant begins
[1]Construction of the AutoAlliance Thailand facility began on 28 November.
- 1975
Mazda opens a Thai knock-down assembly plant
[1]Mazda's first Thai knock-down assembly plant began operations.
- 1974
Sukosol & Mazda Motor Industry is formed
[1]The company was established as part of Mazda's development of local Thai assembly.
Products and positioning
A shared Ford–Mazda manufacturing platform focused on right-sized vehicles, especially pickup trucks and SUVs, for Thailand and export markets.
Pickup truck · 1998
Ford Ranger
The Ford Ranger has been one of AAT's principal products since production began in 1998. It represents the plant's central specialization in compact and midsize pickup trucks for Thailand and export markets.
Sport utility vehicle · 2003
Ford Everest
The Ford Everest joined AAT's production program in 2003. It extended the plant's role from pickup manufacturing into body-on-frame sport utility vehicles derived from Ford's regional truck platform.
Subcompact passenger car · 2009
Mazda2
The Mazda2 entered production at AAT in 2009, adding a compact passenger-car program to a facility historically associated with utility vehicles and pickups.
Compact passenger car · 2010
Mazda3
The Mazda3 began production at AAT in 2010 and formed part of Mazda's Thai manufacturing range alongside the smaller Mazda2.
Crossover SUV · 2015
Mazda CX-3
The Mazda CX-3 was added in 2015, reflecting the growth of compact crossover production within AAT's portfolio.
Crossover SUV · 2019
Mazda CX-30
The Mazda CX-30 entered AAT production in 2019 and expanded Mazda's locally assembled crossover offering.
Pickup truck · 1998
Mazda B-Series
The Mazda B-Series was among AAT's original pickup programs and was produced from 1998 through 2006.
Pickup truck · 2006
Mazda BT-50
The Mazda BT-50 was assembled at AAT from 2006 until 2020, continuing the facility's role in Mazda utility-vehicle production.
Passenger car · 1999
Ford Laser
The Ford Laser was produced at AAT from 1999 to 2002 as one of the plant's early passenger-car programs.
Passenger car · 1999
Mazda 323 Protégé
The Mazda 323 Protégé was assembled at AAT from 1999 to 2002.
Subcompact passenger car · 2010
Ford Fiesta
The Ford Fiesta was produced at AAT from 2010 to 2012. Later Thai production of the model took place at Ford Thailand Manufacturing before passenger-car production there ended.
Brand decisions
2021
Modernization of the Thai manufacturing networkStrategyBackground
Ford's Thai operations included AutoAlliance Thailand and the newer Ford Thailand Manufacturing plant in Rayong, creating a substantial regional production base.
Action taken
Ford announced a US$900 million investment to modernize both facilities.
Aftermath
The announcement reinforced Thailand's role in Ford's regional manufacturing and export network; the reference material does not provide detailed completion results.
Announced modernization investment. US$900 million (Announced in December 2021)
Sources1 sources
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