In an attempt to speed up development of its electric vehicle market ahead of its neighbours, Thailand is aiming to establish a National New Generation Vehicle Committee, and this will be accomplished within the next three months, according to the country’s industry ministry.
This comes after the government made the request through two public and private agencies, and follows on the call made in September by the Thailand Automotive Institute (TAI) that a committee be established to drive the government’s EV scheme and increase sales as the market develops, the Bangkok Post reports.
The new committee will gather officials from three ministries (industry, energy and transport) to work on EV policies, industry minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit said. “The ministry agrees to speed up EV policies as this sector has been promoted as a targeted industry under the S-curve policy,” he said.
“The ministry will propose deputy prime minister Somkid Jatusripitak approve this committee very soon, and prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will also be informed,” he added.
Efforts to promote the EV industry in Thailand began in March 2017, with the government – through the country’s board of investment (BoI) – offering investment privileges (since expired in 2018) to companies, with hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery electric versions of vehicles being eligible.
The BoI reported 13 companies were granted EV privileges, including Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, SAIC Motor-CP, Mitsubishi and Mine Mobility, but the Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand (EVAT) has said that the existing arrangement doesn’t offer much in the way of incentives on the demand side of things. Some automakers are also postponing their investment plans after the government denied their volume requests to import EVs without duties.
Among those calling for progress is the Thailand Potential Development Networkr. Its chairman Somchai Sarovat said that a clear-cut plan was needed because three versions of electrified vehicles were allowed, leading carmakers to invest in assembling the lowest technology – in this case, hybrids – and not full electric models as the government expected.
He said that current EV policies have no committee taking responsibility or following up, while the three ministries have no power to make decisions or take action. He added that the government should revise its EV policies to have a single direction and be in line with global changes. “The network is requesting the government should support the only highest technology, battery EVs,” said Somchai.
“The EV technology is changing very fast on a global level and disrupting car and component production. The network wants to see new battery-powered cars on local roads. Otherwise, Thailand will be left behind neighbouring countries where their governments are speeding up laying the foundation for EVs,” he explained.
The TAI’s long-term roadmap for Thailand is for it to become a production hub for EVs in Southeast Asia, with a goal to produce 2.5 million electric cars by 2030, of which 1.5 million units are set for domestic sale.
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Malaysia was the Detroit of Asia in the 80s. Everybody wanted to CKD in Malaysia
But now, since 25 yrs ago, everybody move to Thailand. Since 25 years ago, Thailand has benefitted from few hundred thousand billion USD in investments and few hundred thousand jobs for Thai people
I wonder what is MAI doing?
Where is Malaysia? Sleeping again!
All must wait for Proton first.
All waiting for Ministers to try their fortune in flying cars. See how many by-elections later.
TAI is always ahead than MAI.
Tomyamland copy our country MAI’s NAP again…
…Because they don’t have kebodohan mentri dreaming of flying car (oops! drone) issues,…
Fixed that for you.
You are right because the Menteri is also the same type as the majority who cannot understand things.
Can’t blame the ministers entirely after all they were elected by the majority of voters. So if the majority voters cannot understand things, this mean they were easily fooled to elect useless idiots as our ministers. I blame PH entirely for that.
Speaking without knowledge is akin to a terrorist
Thank’s Dr.M. Automotive Father of Thailand. Meanwhile our flying car test will be done out of Malaysia..
Meanwhile, back in Boleh-Land, Minister Redzuan busy with Flying Car-pet, oops Car. Heck, it’s not even a car, it’s a damn drone.
Tak apa lah, asal kan boleh songlap.
PT, where is your journalism ethic? When you report someone else’s article, please include the original link for readers. Unless you paid for the license la
Thailand EV is outdated, because in Malaysia we have flying car
Anthony Loke better pull his finger out. How can anyone living in a condo or apartment own a EV in Malaysia?
The only time our New Malaysia ministers are this fast is when they smell the opportunity for quick songlap.
Thailand is really concern with future. To reduce the carbon, they prepare for EV. Unlike Malaysia, flying what? Do you think is cheap for this flying car / pet / drone? Govt will spent a lot of money to control the air traffic, landing procedure etc… just wasting my income tax and my zakat. No need to bring this idea into cabinet.. should bersyukur coz not become like Japan countries which always faced disasters (but they are super smart).