Tan Thong Huat Co., Ltd. History

Tan Thong Huat Co., Ltd.  in English  means “Tan’s family will prosper together” is the first company of “Phornprapha” family founded in 1931 by Dr.Chumpol Phornprapha’s grandfather Mr. Tai-Long Phornprapha (Tan Tài Lóng :  ) and his father Mr. Sindhu Phornprapha (Tan Sòng Xīn :  ).

Mr. Sindhu Phornprapha is the eldest son of Mr. Tai-Long Phornprapha was born in Guangdong Province, China. He accompanied Mr. Tai-Long to Thailand since 20 years of age with his determination to build up a solid commercial business foundation for the family.  Mr. Tai-Long and Mr. Sindhu have started from buying and trading of used glass bottles and metal scrap.  Later, the Company was an importer of round bar, angle bar, deformed bar, and steel sheet, as a resulted Tan Thong Huat Co., Ltd. became the largest steel trader in Thailand at the time.  Since Chiang Kong area (located within China Town in Bangkok) is the center trading of rebar, machinery, motorcycles, and auto parts. Mr. Sindhu has started as an agent selling machinery and water pumps. After World War II and the Korean War, Thailand has higher demand for trucks but still with low purchasing power.  Therefore, Mr. Tai-Long and Mr. Sindhu began to import JEEP that American soldiers used during the war and left in Europe and Korea for repair and reconditioned for sale.  This is an important starting point of business operation in the automotive and motorcycle industries in Thailand.

In 1952, Tan Thong Huat Co., Ltd. established Siam Motors Co., Ltd. with Mrs. Watcharee Phornprapha, Mr. Sindhu Phornprapha’s wife as the first Managing Director of Siam Motors Co., Ltd. (1952-1954) focused in trading with the Thai government.  Tan Thong Huat Co., Ltd. under the management of Mr. Sindhu Phornprapha, Mr. Pairoj Phornprapha, and Mrs. Pannee Charanwat primarily focused on business providing services to Chinese customers while Siam Motors Co., Ltd. under the management of Mrs. Watcharee Phornprapha and Mr. Thaworn Phornprapha would focus on trading and service with the Thai Government and Thai customers.

In 1959, Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat, the Prime Minister at the time abolished pedicab. Tan Thong Huat Co., Ltd., was the first importer of DATSUN BUS and 3-wheeler DAIHATSU which similar to current Tuk-Tuk.  At the same time, Siam Motors Co., Ltd. also imported 3-wheeler MAZADA. In those days, Tan Thong Huat Co., Ltd. imported a variety of motorcycle brands, including RAX, MOTO GUZZI, DUCATI, and HONDA, ranging from HONDA CB125 and C90. At one point in time Tan Thong Huat Co., Ltd. imported 1,000 units of Honda motorcycle on one single order which is the world’s largest imported in term of units. Back then, HONDA appointed 3 dealers (distributors), Tan Thong Huat Co., Ltd. was one of them.  After HONDA established ASIAN HONDA Thailand in 1967, HONDA wanted to manage its own operation and attempt to revoke all 3 distributors. Mr. Sindhu successfully negotiated with HONDA Japan to allow Tan Thong Huat Co., Ltd. to remain as a distributor.  After that, Tan Thong Huat Co., Ltd. acquired shares with HONDA in the motorcycle assembly and manufacturing plant which was later transferred to Mr. Pairote Phornprapha.