The Thailand government is proposing a fund to subsidize electric vehicles - which in Thailand’s definition, includes hybrid (HEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and battery electric vehicles (BEV) – to bring prices down to be on par with regular combustion engines.
Details of the subsidy have yet to be announced but a report by Bangkok Post suggests that it will be limited only to PHEVs and BEVs, similar to China’s subsidy for ‘New Energy Vehicles’.
The proposed fund is now awaiting approval by National Electric Vehicle Policy Committee.
Toyota Ha:mo is a single seater, last mile / first mile electric car sharing service used by students and staff of Chulalongkorn University to travel to/from train stations to the university campus
Also, Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith told the daily that Thailand wants to promote the production of electric pick-up trucks, and would consider an appropriate tax level for them.
“Thailand plans to support EV production throughout the supply chain, including the production of car bodies, batteries and spare parts.
“The government wants to support the production of both 100% EVs and plug-in hybrid EVs,” said the daily.
Presently, pick-up trucks that emit no more than 200 g/km of CO2 are already taxed at a nominal 2.5 percent (Single Cab), 4 percent (Space Cab), and 6 percent (Double-cab).
BEVs are taxed at just 2 percent, while regular Eco Cars (1.2-litre or less, emitting no more than 100 g/km) that are compatible with E85 gasohol biofuel are taxed at 10 percent. Regular cars are taxed at between 20 to 50 percent, depending on CO2 emission.
Thailand had originally targetted to have 30 percent (or 750,000 units) of domestic vehicle production be electric vehicles, including BEVs, HEVs and PHEVs, electric tuk tuks and motorcycles, by year 2030. However, this was later revised to 50 percent (or 1.25 million units).
Over 15 years of experience in automotive, from product planning, to market research, to print and digital media. Garages a 6-cylinder manual RWD but buses to work.
