In 1998, Nattapol recalls, "The Department of Industrial Works was my first workplace in the position of engineer but in that period, the government planned to establish the TAI, separately as a new agency from the Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI), and I was assigned to draft the TAI's regulations and master plan for transport and environment in order to carry on the automotive policy in the country.

The stated vision of the TAI is (to be) "The leading organization of automotive and auto parts industry development with environmental-friendly business ecosystem and modernization".

[10][11] In 2018, TAI signed a letter of intent with Japan External Trade Organization (Jetro) for talks on next-generation vehicles to develop the EV industry in Thailand.

[12] In early September 2019, TAI proposed a committee be established to drive the Thai government's electric vehicle (EV) scheme and increase sales as the market develops.

The TAI stated it has a long-term roadmap for Thailand to become a production hub for EVs in Southeast Asia, with a goal to produce 2.5 million cars in 2030.