Recently-elected prime minister of Thailand, Srettha Thavisin met with Tesla CEO Elon Musk during a visit to New York, United States to discuss the electric vehicle industry, Reuters reported. Srettha was in New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly.
The news wire reported separately that the country is expected to receive investment of at least US$5 billion (RM23.4 billion) from companies including Tesla, Google and Microsoft.
“Tesla would be looking into an EV manufacturing facility, [while] Microsoft and Google are looking at data centres,” Srettha said on X (formerly Twitter), though it was not detailed whether the sum referred to a combined investment or invested individually by each company.
Thailand has been offering incentives to electric vehicle manufacturers and EV battery producers as well as tax cuts to local EV buyers in order to bolster its position as a regional automotive hub, according to Reuters.
Last December, Tesla officially entered the Thailand market with the brand’s launch of the Model 3 and Model Y in the country, with the carmaker’s Supercharger network in Thailand scheduled to go online earlier this year in February.
Tesla officially entered the Malaysian market with the launch of the Tesla Model Y in July this year, and also outlined its development plans for Malaysia. Its head office will be set up in Cyberjaya, and this will serve as its central hub for corporate operations, marketing, training and customer support activities.
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Well done to our neighbour, Thailand. It seems like our corrupt politicians can learn something from them.
As if Thai politicians are clean..LOL
Learn something from Thxi? easily get gun? risk of boom? military control governance?
Do you want to know why Thailand got so many investments from EV companies? Because they don’t have PH and formula man.
If PN rules even worse..no formula..everyday wait god feed..lol
suka sgt thailand, migrate sana bro, usah meracau mcm budak hingus
There is no EV manufacturers willing to invest and open factory in Malaysia due to our useless and corrupt government.
Like those that eat jana wibawa money and text book money?…ahahahhaa
With our corrupt government, we are hopeless. All the promises are lies. Good job Thailand.
Why?..u no more epf money kah?..lol
EVs are a lie!!
As long as proton and perodua are protected and we continue not to abuse by asean free trade agreement for motor vehicles, nobody in their right frame of mind would invest in car making in this country.
Refer my name
Love how Elon is “musking” Jokowi, PMX, Srettha, like playing a chess knowing all of them want a fame to gain voters. Elon is milking ever cent out of them with a smile. SEA leaders should develop own EV cars instead of kowtowing to a Bule, Mat Salleh, Farang. What a shame.
Nothing is concrete yet the Thai PM already rush to speak out. It is the race between Thai and Msia, Indon is out coz Elon Mush can’t fully control the company. Now it is matter of Msia whether we willing to take out the 30% ownership or not. In China market Telsa is the only foreign carmaker wholely owned by themselves, other like VW, Toyota etc must partnership with local company.
Thai – hub of right hand drive for many car brands, cheaper labour cost, higher fuel price push people to take EV.
Msia – stable politic (Thai much worse), better infra, higher income.
Malaysia still got the chance to lure Tesla to build factory here provided that the fuel subsidy reduce. Rich people will get angry and switch to EV first. Then gradually decrease the fuel subsidy, by then middle income earner will also move to EV.
What 30% ownership are you referring to?
Stellantis and Volvo fully own their Malaysian plants.