China will establish a China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC) in regional automaking hub Thailand, a Thai government spokesperson said on Friday.

The government-affiliated auto research institute will be China's fourth in the world after centres in Germany, Switzerland and Japan, spokesperson Chai Wacharonke said in a statement. (Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat, Chayut Setboonsarng; Editing by Martin Petty)