Global wearable-technology firm Garmin has announced plans to build its first manufacturing facility in Southeast Asia, selecting Chonburi province in Thailand as the location for the new plant.

The company expects production to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Garmin reports that revenue in Thailand grew more than 35% in the first half of 2025 and global sales reached approximately US$3.34 billion, up 16% year-on-year.

The Thai investment is part of a regional expansion strategy to support Garmin’s growth across Asia.

The Chonburi facility will be constructed on a 23-rai (approximately 3.7 ha) site and will follow international energy-management standards (ISO 50001), incorporating solar-power systems for improved sustainability.

Initially, the company plans to use the plant for automotive-component original equipment manufacturing, with potential future output covering its full product range of wearable devices and health-tech offerings.

A Thai market executive highlighted the country’s strategic location, noting that Thailand can function as a regional hub connecting to broader Asia and global markets.

The move comes amid growing interest among Thai consumers in fitness, outdoor recreation and health-monitoring technologies—themes central to Garmin’s brand and product ecosystem.

The announcement deepens Thailand’s attractiveness as a manufacturing destination for global electronics firms while aligning with Garmin’s vertical-integration approach to control design, engineering, production and services.

Industry observers say the project will bolster Thailand’s tech-industry credentials and could attract further investment into advanced manufacturing sectors in the country’s eastern corridor.

As Garmin ramps up its Asia-Pacific footprint, the factory in Chonburi represents a key milestone for both the company and Thailand’s ambition to move up the value chain in electronics production.