PPG announced the startup of a waterborne automotive coatings manufacturing facility in Samut Prakan, Thailand, to meet growing regional demand for sustainably advantaged products. The plant will produce waterborne basecoats and primers, expanding PPG’s local capacity to serve automotive manufacturers in Southeast Asia.

With an annual production capacity of 2,000 tons, the state-of-the-art facility includes an automated spray application center that will enhance PPG’s service capabilities and competitiveness in the global automotive coatings market.

A ceremony marking the opening was held March 20 and included PPG executives and representatives from regional automotive companies.

“Southeast Asia is experiencing rapid growth in the automotive sector. With the Thai government’s support for electric vehicles presenting vast opportunities for global automakers, including Chinese OEMs, we saw the need to expand our operations,” said Alisha Bellezza, PPG senior vice president, automotive OEM coatings.

PPG has established partnerships with major Asian automakers, including Chinese brands such as BYD and Chery, and the new facility enables localized production and technical support for customers across the region.

“PPG's purpose to ‘protect and beautify the world’ is evident in its development of waterborne coatings with low VOC emissions,” said Thomas Li, PPG vice president, Asia Pacific, automotive OEM coatings. “Our new plant in Thailand represents a significant step in PPG’s commitment to promoting sustainable transformation within the automotive coatings industry.”

This investment follows PPG’s 2024 announcement to build its first new U.S. manufacturing plant in more than 15 years.