History & Background
Mr. Miang Kia Sae-Ung (father of Mr. Methee Phithaksit) came to live in Thailand as a child with his father, who had emigrated from China. At that time, Mr. Miang Kia's father ran trading businesses in partnership with friends in Bangkok, Nakhon Pathom, and Phetchaburi—namely Hua Seng and Hua Nguan stores in Bangkok, and Nguan Heng store in Nakhon Pathom. Hua Nguan had been trading tobacco since the reign of King Rama IV. When World War I broke out, Mr. Miang Kia was only 15 years old and had been helping his father run the business all along. With the onset of war, the partners and relatives all went their separate ways.
Mr. Miang Kia established the Isuzu Ung Nguan Tai store in Phetchaburi Province in 1930 (B.E. 2473) at the age of just 22. He began trading consumer goods such as oil, milk, cigarettes, and other available merchandise. This marked his first business venture on Phanit Charoen Road before row houses were built. Meanwhile, his father went on to trade separately in Bang Tabun Subdistrict, Ban Laem District, Phetchaburi Province. When his father turned 50, Mr. Miang Kia brought him to live together in Mueang District, Phetchaburi Province, due to his advancing age.
Before long, Mr. Miang Kia's father returned to China and passed away there. Mr. Miang Kia traveled to China to arrange his father's burial site, leaving relatives in charge of the business in Thailand for seven years. During that period, World War II broke out, preventing him from returning to Thailand. Once the war ended, Mr. Miang Kia was finally able to return, only to find that the Isuzu Ung Nguan Tai business had deteriorated to the point of bankruptcy, leaving behind only the Crown Property land lease.
Mr. Miang Kia rebuilt his livelihood for the second time by constructing a wooden house on the same Crown Property land. About two to three years later, he was blessed with twin sons: Dr. Wichan Phithaksit (Mr. Iam-bung Phithaksit) and Mr. Methee Phithaksit (Mr. Iam-bu Phithaksit). However, less than six months later, a massive fire swept through Phetchaburi Province, devastating the business he had pioneered for the second time and leaving him penniless once again.
After that devastating fire, Mr. Miang Kia refused to give up despite repeated hardships and rebuilt his business for a third time. The Isuzu Ung Nguan Tai store was constructed as a masonry building on the same Crown Property land, serving as a dealer for Flying Horse (Mobil Oil) fuel, cigarettes, Mam brand milk, and Bridgestone, Yokohama, and Michelin tires. Two years later, he built a Flying Horse gas station, which later became an Esso gas station—the very first gas station in Phetchaburi Province. In addition, he sold Ford and Chevrolet cars as well as Mercedes-Benz trucks.
A new era for Thailand's automotive industry began when ISUZU launched and first sold its trucks in the country. At that time, Thailand, under the leadership of Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat, was heavily focused on developing national infrastructure—building roads nationwide, electricity, waterworks, and irrigation systems to support economic expansion and industrial investment. ISUZU trucks quickly gained popularity in agricultural transport and many other sectors.
It marked a crucial milestone and a challenging test for Mr. Maen Phithaksit when he earned the trust of Mitsubishi Co., Ltd. (Automotive Division)—known today as Tri Petch ISUZU Sales Co., Ltd.—to become the authorized ISUZU dealer in Phetchaburi Province. This was the true beginning of Isuzu Ung Nguan Tai, initially registered under the name “Phetchaburi Motor Ltd., Part.”, or Ung Nguan Tai ISUZU Sales Co., Ltd. today.
Mr. Methee Phithaksit, the youngest son, began assisting his father in 1969 (B.E. 2512). Drawing on the knowledge, skills, and experience gained from his father, as well as a study trip on the automotive business at Mitsubishi Corporation, Mr. Methee spent two years helping manage operations before being entrusted to take full charge in 1971 (B.E. 2514). He quickly proved his capability by boosting vehicle sales to 300 units within a single year, and further increasing them to 500–1,000 units in subsequent years. In 1972 (B.E. 2515), he married Ms. Saowanit Chaiprasit, a nursing graduate from Siriraj Hospital and his high school classmate from Arunpradit School in Phetchaburi Province.
Mr. Methee Phithaksit managed the business through 1998 (B.E. 2541), a year of severe economic crisis nationwide when numerous financial institutions collapsed and domestic businesses went bankrupt. Isuzu Ung Nguan Tai was also affected in a chain reaction, as extensive hire-purchase auto lending led to uncollectible debts. At that time, his eldest son, Mr. Theerayuth Phithaksit, stepped in to co-manage the business alongside Mr. Methee starting in 1998. Later, his other two children, Mr. Thanawit Phithaksit and Mrs. Thanthip Leewutthinun, also joined the management team, making Isuzu Ung Nguan Tai even stronger and more stable. Today, the Isuzu Ung Nguan Tai Group operates a network of 17 standard showroom and service center branches across multiple provinces.