LOS ANGELES — Thailand Automotive Parts and Accessories Association (TAPAA) is scheduled to make its first visit to the United States. TAPAA is scheduled to be in Los Angeles at the end of September. The trip has been approved and sponsored by the Government of Thailand. The delegates from TAPAA will also be joined by two major financial institutions as well as Thailand Embassy representatives.

While in Los Angeles, the TAPAA is scheduled to meet with automotive aftermarket businesses including a visit to One Stop Parts Source Distribution Center, and a factory tour of Auto Tech Engineering, located in Fontana, Calif. Tentative appointments also have been scheduled with NAPA, Pep Boys and AutoZone.

TAPAA is looking to broaden its manufacturing and exportation capabilities beyond its current Asian and African market base and looks to North America to learn about how this market differs from others that it currently serves. Thailand is a hub for OEM vehicles being produced and sold to Southeast Asia and Africa. The TAPAA is looking to make “Made in Thailand” as accepted as “Made in China” is today.

“There is a tremendous opportunity for factories and distributors to seek opportunities with TAPAA,” said Samuel DeSantos, general manager of Auto Tech Engineering, which will meet with the Thailand delegation. “While many of our aftermarket products are currently coming from Asia, Thailand has yet to penetrate the North American market but has the same resources available to meet the needs for North America.”