August 2021
Press Release | 2021.08.23

BMW Group Thailand, together with HackVax Open Design, Bangchak Corporation PCL, Zico Foundation, Rangsit University, Volunteer Organisers, Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital, and partners join forces to provide proactive COVID-19 testing in Bangkok Metropolitan Area

From left: Khun Opas Noppornpitak, Manager Corporate Communications, BMW Group Thailand (Plant Rayong), Dr. Jade Boonyawongvirot, Assistant Director, Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital, Dr. Nisita Natprayut, Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital, KhunNarumon Srisan, Deputy Administrative Director, Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital, Dr. Kriangsak Watcharanukulkiat, Director of Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital, Dr Supachai Kunaratanapruk, Executive Dean, Medical College and Health Science Departments, Rangsit University, Khun Krisda Utamote, Director Corporate Communications, BMW Group Thailand, Khun Kloita Na Thalang, Executive Vice President Sustainability Management and Corporate Communications, Bangchak Corporation PCL, and Khun Marut Chumkuntod, Founder of HackVax Open Design initiative

 

Bangkok. Through collaboration between agencies, organisations, and working groups including BMW Group Thailand, Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital (as part of the Rural Doctor Society), HackVax Open Design, Bangchak Corporation PCL, Zico Foundation, QueQ Application, Bangkok Glass PCL, Thai Beverage PCL, T.C. Pharmaceutical Industries Co., Ltd., True Corporation PCL, Tech BaseCamp Co., Ltd., and Volunteer Organisers, proactive COVID-19 testing services through Antigen Test Kits (ATK) were provided as an alternative testing option to people living in the Bangkok Metropolitan Area at the beginning of August 2021 to help Thailand fight against the pandemic. Over 41 teams of medical personnel from the Rural Doctor Society took part in this mission.

 

BMW Group Thailand provided transport support for medical personnel and staff from the Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital at each testing station with six BMW X1 xDrive20d and MINI Cooper S Countryman vehicles. However, the most important element in this crucial initiative was the cooperation between every partner to support the Rural Doctor Society.  In this mission, over 145,000 people from Bangkok Metropolitan Area were tested, with testing stations covering 369 communities.

 

This testing initiative was also supported by HackVax Open Design, Bangchak Corporation PCL, Zico Foundation, QueQ Application, Bangkok Glass PCL, Thai Beverage PCL, T.C. Pharmaceutical Industries Co., Ltd., True Corporation PCL, Tech BaseCamp Co., Ltd., and Volunteer Organisers as key forces that facilitated the mission to pass on this crucial assistance during the COVID-19 crisis in an orderly and efficient manner, playing their part in reducing transmission in Thailand.

 

The proactive COVID-19 testing mission in the Bangkok Metropolitan Area by the Rural Doctor Society aims to identify as many infected patients as possible through Antigen Test Kits (ATK), so that they can be treated with Favipiravir medicine and brought into home isolation without delay. For this mission, over 400 frontline Rural Doctor Society personnel comprising 41 teams worked throughout seven days of proactive testing between 4th and 10th August 2021 in over 196 testing stations, covering 369 communities in the Bangkok Metropolitan Area. A total of 145,566 people were tested, of which 16,186 cases were found positive (11.1% of total tested cases), while 467,150 Favipiravir tablets were provided to the patients.

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ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

BMW Group Thailand provided transport support for medical personnel and staff from Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital to each testing station.

BMW Group Thailand provided transport support for medical personnel and staff from Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital to each testing station.

Medical personnel from the Rural Doctor Society (Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital team), and volunteers from partner organisations prepare for COVID-19 testing through ATKs at each testing station.

Medical personnel from the Rural Doctor Society (Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital team), and volunteers from partner organisations prepare for COVID-19 testing through ATKs at each testing station.

Medical personnel from the Rural Doctor Society (Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital team), and volunteers from partner organisations prepare for COVID-19 testing through ATKs at each testing station.

Medical personnel from the Rural Doctor Society (Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital team), and volunteers from partner organisations prepare for COVID-19 testing through ATKs at each testing station.

Medical personnel from the Rural Doctor Society (Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital team), and volunteers from partner organisations prepare for COVID-19 testing through ATKs at each testing station.

Medical personnel from the Rural Doctor Society (Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital team), and volunteers from partner organisations prepare for COVID-19 testing through ATKs at each testing station.

People receive COVID-19 tests at each testing station between 4th and 10th August 2021.

BMW Group Thailand provided transport support for medical personnel and staff from Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital to each testing station.

BMW Group Thailand provided transport support for medical personnel and staff from Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital to each testing station.

Medical personnel from the Rural Doctor Society (Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital team), and volunteers from partner organisations prepare for COVID-19 testing through ATKs at each testing station.

Medical personnel from the Rural Doctor Society (Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital team), and volunteers from partner organisations prepare for COVID-19 testing through ATKs at each testing station.

Medical personnel from the Rural Doctor Society (Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital team), and volunteers from partner organisations prepare for COVID-19 testing through ATKs at each testing station.

Medical personnel from the Rural Doctor Society (Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital team), and volunteers from partner organisations prepare for COVID-19 testing through ATKs at each testing station.

Medical personnel from the Rural Doctor Society (Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital team), and volunteers from partner organisations prepare for COVID-19 testing through ATKs at each testing station.

Medical personnel from the Rural Doctor Society (Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital team), and volunteers from partner organisations prepare for COVID-19 testing through ATKs at each testing station.

People receive COVID-19 tests at each testing station between 4th and 10th August 2021.

The BMW Group  

With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services.
The BMW Group production network comprises 31 production and assembly facilities in 15 countries; the company has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.  

 

In 2020, the BMW Group sold over 2.3 million passenger vehicles and more than 169,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2019 was € 7.118 billion on revenues amounting to € 104.210 billion. As of 31 December 2019, the BMW Group had a workforce of 126,016 employees.  

  

The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore established ecological and social sustainability throughout the value chain, comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy.  

 

BMW Group Thailand  

BMW Group Thailand, a subsidiary of BMW AG, Germany, was established on the 3rd October 1998. The three entities of BMW Group Thailand are BMW (Thailand) Co., Ltd. with responsibility for wholesales & marketing of BMW Group products, BMW Manufacturing (Thailand) Co., Ltd. with responsibility for BMW and BMW Motorrad local production, and BMW Leasing (Thailand) Co., Ltd. with responsibility for financial services offerings to both wholesale and retail customers.  

 

In 2020, BMW Group Thailand recorded a stable performance with 12,426 BMW and MINI deliveries. A total of 11,242 BMW vehicles were delivered to Thai customers, a slight 4.3% decrease from 2019, while a total 1,184 MINI vehicles were delivered in Thailand, reflecting a small dip of only 1.7% drop year-on-year. BMW Motorrad Thailand maintained its performance despite difficult conditions in 2020 with 1,224 motorcycles delivered.

   

On the production side, the BMW Group Manufacturing Thailand plant was founded on BMW Group’s strong belief in the growth potential of Asian markets and Thailand in particular with its unique location, strong manufacturing base, and ready supply of skilled automotive labor, being an automotive hub for ASEAN. On-going investment has been put into the expansion of plant Rayong in terms of assembling processes, aiming to meet growing customer demand. In addition, with approximately 4 billion Thai Baht representing the amount of annual purchasing in Thailand, the BMW Global Purchasing office has been established in Thailand. This is to source various components from local suppliers in Thailand and the broader ASEAN region, in order to supply the entire BMW production network of 31 production and assembly facilities, located in 15 countries worldwide.  

  

BMW Group Manufacturing Thailand produces the following 17 models: BMW 2 Series, BMW 3 Series, BMW 5 Series, BMW 7 Series, BMW X1, BMW X3, BMW X5, and BMW X7. For BMW Motorrad, the BMW F 900 R, BMW F 900 XR, BMW F 750 GS, BMW F 850 GS, BMW F 850 GS Adventure, BMW R 1250 GS, BMW R 1250 GS Adventure, BMW S 1000 R and BMW S 1000 RR are also locally assembled at the plant. In addition, BMW Group Manufacturing Thailand now assembles five BMW plug-in hybrid models; BMW 330e, BMW 530e, BMW X3 xDrive30e, BMW X5 xDrive45e and BMW 745Le xDrive.

 

For further information, please contact: 

BMW Group Thailand  

1397
www.bmw.co.th     
www.mini.co.th     
www.bmw-motorrad.co.th      

 

Media Contacts:  

Carl Byoir & Associates  

Suthatip Boonsaeng (08-7685-1695 or0-2627-3501 ext.102)  

Thornthawat Thongnab (08-3225-4567 or 0-2627-3501 ext.206)  

Pawalisa Thanawajeran (08-6564-4726 or 0-2627-3501 ext.125)  

Napasorn Sriwannavit (08-5862-7676 or 0-2627-3501 ext.212)  

sboonsaeng@carlbyoir.com, tthongnab@carlbyoir.com, pthanawajeran@carlbyoir.com, nsriwannavit@carlbyoir.com

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