Thailand is among Garmin Health’s fastest-growing markets in the region, and the company’s business-to-business operation is preparing to open its first Southeast Asian manufacturing facility in the country this quarter.
The Board of Investment has approved Garmin’s planned investment of 3 billion baht for manufacturing, meant to deepen Thailand’s role in the group’s production network alongside growing demand for wearable data in healthcare, insurance and employee wellness.
Jörn Watzke, senior director of Garmin Health global sales, said the business is growing by 25% year-on-year in Asia, with Thailand a leading growth market. Singapore, South Korea and Vietnam also showed strong engagement.
The Asia-Pacific wearable market is expected to grow from US$11.5 billion in 2026 to $24.7 billion by 2031, representing a 13.6% compound annual growth rate.
Thai companies are investing in rehabilitation and medical therapies, often working with universities to develop services using wearable data, he said.
Garmin plans to begin production in Thailand this quarter, with a grand opening scheduled for March 2027, said Susan Lyman, vice-president for consumer sales and marketing.
The firm’s manufacturing network spans the US, the Netherlands, Poland, the UK, China and Taiwan.
Garmin generated $7.25 billion in global revenue last year and is targeting more than $8.1 billion this year, she said.
The company shipped more than 20 million products last year, taking cumulative shipments above 320 million since its founding in 1989. Garmin launches more than 100 products annually across its automotive, aviation, marine, outdoor and sports businesses.
Garmin operates 12 production facilities and 102 offices in 37 countries, with vertically integrated models for design, manufacturing, distribution and customer support, allowing it to control quality throughout the product lifecycle, Ms Lyman said.
BEYOND FITNESS
Garmin Health enables organisations to integrate biometric data from its wearables into their services, extending their use beyond personal fitness.
Local partners are building customised healthcare platforms around wearable data, reflecting its growing incorporation into preventive care programmes and therapies across the region.
Applications range from preventive care, clinical research and rehabilitation to employee wellness and occupational safety, Mr Watzke said.
Insurers can use the data in health promotion, customer engagement, loyalty and underwriting programmes, while gyms and fitness operators represent another growing market.
The opportunity centres on healthy longevity. Physical activity and regular sleep are central to that goal, with continuous tracking helping users understand their habits and supporting health programmes and research.
Lifestyle improvements remain relevant even for people in their 50s and 70s, he said.
Research adoption is also accelerating. The number of studies worldwide using Garmin wearables as data sensors rose from 420 to 500 over the past year, while the number in Asia increased by 50%.
Mr Watzke cited clinical research across Asia-Pacific as a partnership opportunity and Singapore’s government investment in health initiatives as an example of public-sector support.
Thailand’s strong running community supports wearable demand, but consumers typically replace devices every three to four years when new features offer substantial value, Mr Watzke said.
Upgrade drivers include more accurate sensors, improved displays, AI-powered personalised fitness coaching and interactive sleep coaches that use daily stress metrics to inform recommendations.
Wearables are moving beyond displaying raw measurements, and are now explaining users’ health implications and offering practical guidance, he said.
Rather than simply flagging insufficient deep sleep, devices can recommend changes such as keeping bedrooms dark and quiet, said Mr Watzke.
Ms Lyman said that extended battery life supports continuous tracking, with selected models running for two to three weeks between charges. This allows users to monitor activity, sleep and other health indicators over longer periods.