This study examines innovation and research and development capabilities on the Thai automotive injection molding parts industry which has often been referred to as the ‘Detroit of Asia’. Thailand as a founding member of a $2.5 trillion dollar economic community is centrally positioned to be a key player in the automotive injection molding sector that in the U.S. alone represents an estimated $100 billion market. Although Thailand in recent years has suffered some setbacks due to both natural disasters and political turmoil, it is on track again to reach the goal of producing 3 million vehicles in 2016 of which 90% of these vehicles components are made from injection molding. The researchers therefore undertook research using a mix of both quantitative and qualitative data analysis from auto production and parts supplier companies in industrial estates around Thailand. The findings from this study showed that if an organization has a focus on research and development, there will be a knock-on effect to the automotive parts group increasing innovation leading to a greater competitive advantage to the organization and the Thai auto parts industry as a whole. It is believed that results from this research will show that research and development capabilities has a direct effect on both innovation and competitive advantage with an indirect influence on competitive advantage through innovation.