Suzuki Motor has agreed to sell its vehicle assembly plant in Rayong, Thailand, to US automaker Ford Motor, according to local reports, as the Japanese automaker looks to reduce costs and streamline its global operations amid intensifying competition from Chinese automakers.
The 65,000 sq m plant, located on a 66 hectare plot adjacent to Ford Thailand Manufacturing Company’s (FTM) existing vehicle production facility in the Rayong free trade zone, began operations in 2012 with an annual production capacity of 80,000 small passenger vehicles. Since peaking at around 60,000 units in 2013, annual production has dropped sharply – to just 4,400 in 2025, split between the Alto, Ciaz and Swift models.
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Financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed, and the transfer of land and assets is scheduled to be completed within the coming months. The location of the plant will allow Ford to easily scale up its existing operations in the future, strengthening Thailand as a production hub where it produces the Ranger pickup truck and the Everest SUV.
A Suzuki spokesperson confirmed that the decision to sell the plant came after the company struggled to establish a strong presence in the Thai small car market, with problems exacerbated by the strong Thai baht and rising competition from Chinese automakers. Production at the plant is understood to have been discontinued at the end of 2025.
