Mercedes-Benz Thailand (MBT) is considering applying for Thailand’s Board of Investment (BoI) incentives to produce electric vehicles in the country, the Bangkok Post reports. The deadline for EV incentive application is December 28.
“The government’s policy is crucial to beef up the population of EV cars here, as well as educating Thai motorists about EV mobility. We are committing to market both plug-in hybrid and battery EVs and diversifying all models to balance with ICE cars for local customer choices,” said MBT’s new president and CEO Roland Folger, who was once in charge of the company’s Malaysian operations.
The premium carmaker has already won privileges for two other categories: plug-in hybrids and lithium-ion batteries. Mercedes-Benz pledged to assemble 607 million baht (RM77.1 million) worth of PHEVs and 600 million baht (RM76.2 million) worth of lithium-ion batteries. The BoI approved the applications back in March.
Folger noted that the adoption of full EVs has to come with appropriate state policies and market demand. “It’s not necessary that the government invest in all charging stations nationwide or offer a cash subsidy for buyers,” he said, adding that a scheme with an expiry date would not be a sustainable policy.
In March, Mercedes-Benz and local partner Thonburi Automotive Assembly Plant announced an investment of over 100 million euros (RM475.3 million) in production operations in Thailand until 2020. The investment will go into the extension of an existing car plant in Samut Prakan and a new hybrid battery assembly plant in the area.
The 48,000 square metre hybrid battery factory will be the first of its kind in Thailand and the sixth facility for Daimler worldwide. Currently, there are three of such battery plants in Germany and one each in the US and China. The Thai battery factory will start production next year, and will initially serve local demand.
Besides Mercedes-Benz, the other BoI incentive recipients so far are Mazda and Toyota in the regular hybrid category, plus BMW and SAIC Motor (MG) in the PHEV category, with Mitsubishi possibly next. Learn more about Thailand’s green car local assembly incentives here.
GALLERY: Mercedes-Benz EQC
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during previous gahmen, carmakers wud favour MY
True dat!
Mercedes loyal to DRB Pekan..
But Pekan was not loyal to Atuk…..
Hidup Pekan!
No worries. Atuk says we have P3 to save our automotive industry, but the real reason everyone is moving elsewhere is because of him and his stupid ideas.
What’s more stupider is those who voted for him to come back. We wasted our opportunity to grab Dyson car and now this. They have setup factories here but sooner rather than later, they too will leave for other countries with better futures. Malaysia is going backwards!
True dat!
are you sure because of P3, dyson car dont want to setup factory here?
and do you think because tok M back for 6 months, all investors immediate sign with neighbor country?
All investors have cabut lari or going to soon. Who wants to come here and stroke the ego of a despot?
Where is MAI, became MIA
Mercedes should seriously consider have EQ vehicles (the EEV and electrified, hydoegen fuel cell) to be built in Malaysia for the ASEAN region supply. I doubt the current Malaysian Govt would not consider this seriously. They have just made a P3 as a national project (beyond mobility) and therefore would welcome the proposal. As for MB, Pengerang complex will be producing many of the engineering plastics that would be required in EQ vehicles.