BMW is set to expand local assembly of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) in Thailand following the granting of investment privileges to the automaker by the country’s Board of Investment (BoI), the Bangkok Post reports.
The BoI-approved project will see a 700 million baht (RM85.9 million) expansion of BMW’s Group Manufacturing Thailand’s existing PHEV assembly line at its facility in Amata City Industrial Estate in Rayong province. The company currently assembles four PHEV models in the Kingdom, namely the 330e, the 530e, the X5 xDrive40e and the 740Le.
“The BoI’s benefits will go to the making of finished cars and preparation for battery-pack assembly to be further implemented in 2019. Currently we have our team to work on this matter, as well as other applications for battery EVs and battery assembly lines, so BMW has yet to announce any plans until we come to a decision,” said BMW Group Thailand president Christian Wiedmann.
He added that battery-pack assembly is under study as the automaker continues to seek other partners as local suppliers for its PHEV versions, but said the company is committed to completing the project in mid-2019, a timeline that was reported earlier this year. The PHEV batteries are currently imported from Europe.
It’s no surprise to see automakers ramping up hybrid and PHEV initiatives in Thailand. In 2017, the BoI approved promotional privileges for manufacturers of green cars including hybrids, plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and full electric vehicles (EVs), with incentives including tax holidays of five to eight years.
Sales of BMW’s iPerformance PHEVs have as such been gaining ground in Thailand – last year, sales rose by 269% to 10,020 units, representing 13% of all BMWs sold in the country.
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this is a master stroke from BMW to increase production in Thailand. Sensing the trade war between China and US is well underway, to avoid Middle Kingdom tariffs on US-built cars.
Just a matter of time before BMW closes its CKD in Malaysia and opens fully in Thailand to be exported to Malaysia
This is because doing business in Thailand is so easy with minimum red tape.
Here, got to give so much of dedak for approval of anything.
This is why Thailand is the Detroit of Asia. Sad that Malaysians have lost trillions in investments and jobs.
i hope there will be a cheap PHEV…so not only rich ppl can park at those plug bays at malls
Got. It’s here since 2017:
https://paultan.org/2014/10/14/proton-ev-2017-under-rm100k/
Considering how much BMW is making from selling their PHEV, not to mention for the price they’re selling with all the missing equipment/options… They should help alleviate the current charging point congestion in the Klang Valley. (Have no experience outside of the KV).
Every time a fully charged car is parked at one of the charging point (and for at least 2-3 hours after it turned green), it is always a BMW.
They got scared after hearing about Perotiga.
I am not really surprised why Thailand has managed to secure the additional investment from BMW. They have a forward looking vision to secure their country’s economic by leveraging on their neighbours.
Malaysia is currently the biggest market for luxury cars in ASEAN and with good profit margin to boot. Furthermore, our politicians from both sides have been sabotaging any good ideas to expand our automotive industry (re third national car hulabalu) and been talking about National Automotive Policy since early 1990s without any real actions.
So kudos to Malaysians especially them politician and our laggard government officers into making Malaysia as good consuming nation. Whatever economic rents can be “shared” with our neighbours eg Thailand (Automotive Production Hub for ASEAN), Indonesia (up and coming biggest automotive market soon) and Viet Nam (up and coming automotive producer re Vinfast car company).
In conclusion, we may have just thrown out any future opportunities for our children and grandchildren.
No worries. We going to have Perotiga!!!