Some might call it a limitation, others are of the opine that it’s the future but despite only carrying a portfolio solely comprising battery electric vehicles (BEV), Chinese carmaker BYD has collected more bookings than Ford and almost equalled that of Nissan at the recently concluded Bangkok International Motor Show 2023.

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Even boosted by the massive popularity of pick-up trucks in their ranks, the legacy marques of Nissan and Ford couldn’t leave the newcomer in their rear-view mirrors. Not only are the figures a solid indicator of the popularity of BEVs but it also signals a wider acceptance of the propulsion method among consumers.

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On our side, BYD is already doing well here with the affordable Atto 3 and is expected to be joined by its marine fauna-named siblings, the Seal and Dolphin, by the end of the year.

On the whole, bookings at the motor show tallied up to 45,983 units from the 1,620,459 visitors. The bookings comprise not just cars and motorcycles but also aquatic machinery such as jet skis.

Of the total bookings recorded, cars accounted for 42,885 units or 93 percent. Digging deeper, BEVs made up 9,234 of those units, or 21.1 percent. That’s more than 1 out of every 5 car bookings at the show being a BEV.

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Compared with 2022 that garnered 33,936 bookings, this year’s numbers that are 35.5 percent higher point towards a strong year for the Thai automotive sector and further reinforces the motor show’s position as the number one auto show in Thailand and the region.

Also Read: EV sales in Malaysia expected to rise by more than 45% in 2023, according to analysts