Thailand Revs Up For An Electric Future With BYD And Electric Tuk-Tuks | CNA Correspondent

Summary

The 2024 Bangkok Motor Show highlights Thailand's ambition to become a world-class EV production hub. With BYD, the Chinese automaker that overtook Tesla, leading the charge, Thailand is attracting global EV brands to set up manufacturing. The Thai government's incentives and support for the EV sector are driving growth, as local companies adapt to the electric future, and startups like HM Motor join the race. The focus is on expanding charging infrastructure and promoting local participation in the EV supply chain to ensure Thailand's automotive industry thrives in the electrification era.

Takeaways

• 🚗 Chinese automaker BYD has become the world's top electric vehicle producer, overtaking Tesla and opening its first plant in Thailand.
• 🌏 Thailand is positioning itself as a hub for electric vehicle production, with the government actively promoting foreign investment in the sector.
• 🏭 The Thai Board of Investment has approved 24 projects by car makers to produce various types of electric vehicles within the country.
• 🔋 There is a strong focus on battery manufacturing, with more than 40 projects promoted by the government, recognizing the battery as a key component of EVs.
• 💰 The Thai government expects EV and EV-related investments to reach 5.5 billion USD in the next five years.
• 📈 BYD's investment in Thailand is seen as beneficial for bilateral relations between China and Thailand, in addition to economic gains.
• 🚘 Japanese car makers have traditionally used Thailand as a regional production base, but Chinese companies are now making significant inroads in the EV sector.
• 🔧 The entry of global EV brands into Thailand is seen as an opportunity for local component manufacturers to grow and become part of the EV supply chain.
• 📊 Thailand has a goal to have at least 30% of all vehicles produced in the country be zero-emission vehicles by 2030.
• 🔌 The availability of public charging stations is a concern for EV drivers in Thailand, with a need for more infrastructure to support the growing number of EVs.
• 🛵 Local Thai companies, such as HM Motor, are also participating in the EV market, focusing on electric bikes and motorbikes for commercial and private use.

Q & A

Which Chinese automaker overtook Tesla as the world's top electric vehicle producer?

BYD overtook Tesla as the world's top electric vehicle producer.

How long has Toyota been making cars in Thailand?

Toyota has been making cars in Thailand for over 60 years.

What is Thailand's position in the world's automotive production ranking?

Thailand ranks as the 10th largest automotive production base in the world.

What is the Thai government's intention regarding the electric vehicle industry?

The Thai government has a strong intention to make Thailand a world-class EV production hub.

How many EV projects has Thailand's Board of Investment approved?

Thailand's Board of Investment has approved 24 projects by car makers to produce EVs in the country.

What is the expected annual production capacity of BYD's first plant in Thailand?

BYD's first plant in Thailand is expected to produce 150,000 EV units annually.

Which Chinese company became the first to start production in Thailand?

Great Wall Motor (GWM) became the first Chinese EV manufacturer to start production in Thailand.

What is the current number of public charging points in Thailand?

Thailand currently has about 9,700 public charging points for electric vehicles.

What is the government's initiative to encourage consumers to switch to electric vehicles?

The Thai government offers subsidies to consumers buying electric cars, pickup trucks, or e-motorbikes, ranging from 20,000 to 100,000 Thai Baht per unit.

What is the Thai government's target for electric vehicles by 2030?

The Thai government aims to ensure that at least 30% of all vehicles produced in Thailand will be zero-emission vehicles by 2030.

How has the entry of global EV brands into Thailand affected local component manufacturers?

The entry of global EV brands into Thailand has provided local component manufacturers with increased opportunities and potential for greater growth as they become part of the EV supply chain.

Outlines

00:00

🚗 Thailand's Electric Vehicle Aspirations

The 2024 Bangkok Motor Show highlighted Thailand's push towards an electric future in the automotive industry. Chinese automaker BYD, now the world's top electric vehicle producer, and Toyota, a long-established player in Thailand, are leading this transition. The Thai government, under Prime Minister Sata Toen, is actively attracting foreign investments to bolster the economy and establish Thailand as a world-class EV production hub. The Board of Investment (BoI) has approved numerous projects for EV production, aiming to manufacture over half a million EV units annually. The focus also includes battery manufacturing, with more than 40 projects promoted by the BoI. The government anticipates significant growth in EV investments over the next five years, with BYD's first Thai plant being a significant step in this direction.

05:10

🏭 The Emergence of Chinese EV Manufacturers in Thailand

Great Wall Motor (GWM), a leading SUV maker from China, has become the first Chinese EV manufacturer to initiate production in Thailand, reusing a former General Motors factory. The Thai vehicle manufacturing industry has developed a robust ecosystem of support industries, which are poised to benefit from the influx of global EV brands. Local companies, such as Tha Metal Aluminum, are adapting by shifting from traditional automotive parts to those required for EVs, anticipating increased opportunities in the EV supply chain. Global consultancy firm YCP Solidiance notes a surge in inquiries regarding the EV sector, suggesting potential for job growth.

Keywords

💡Electric Vehicle (EV)

An electric vehicle, or EV, is a vehicle that is powered by an electric motor and typically uses rechargeable batteries for propulsion. In the context of the video, EVs represent the future of the automotive industry, with Thailand aiming to become a hub for EV production. The script mentions various projects and investments related to EVs, highlighting the country's commitment to embracing this technology.

💡Bangkok Motor Show

The Bangkok Motor Show is an annual event that showcases the latest in automotive technology and design. The script refers to the 2024 edition, which was significant for featuring a strong presence of EVs and indicating Thailand's push towards electrification of its automotive industry.

💡BYD

BYD, or Build Your Dreams, is a Chinese automaker that specializes in producing electric vehicles. The script notes that BYD overtook Tesla as the world's top EV producer and has opened its first plant in Thailand, emphasizing the company's global footprint and its role in Thailand's EV ambitions.

💡Thailand's Automotive Industry

Thailand's automotive industry is a significant part of the country's economy and is highlighted in the script as the largest production base in Southeast Asia, ranking 10th in the world. The government's initiatives to attract foreign investments and promote EV production are aimed at maintaining this industry's dominance in the region and globally.

💡Board of Investment (BoI)

The Board of Investment, or BoI, is a government agency in Thailand responsible for promoting and facilitating investments. The script mentions that BoI has approved numerous projects by carmakers to produce EVs in the country, indicating the government's proactive approach to fostering the EV sector.

💡Battery Makers

Battery makers are companies that produce batteries, a critical component of electric vehicles. The script discusses how the Thai government has granted promotions to more than 40 battery projects, recognizing the importance of battery production in establishing a comprehensive EV ecosystem.

💡Great Wall Motor (GWM)

Great Wall Motor, or GWM, is one of China's largest SUV manufacturers. The script points out that GWM became the first Chinese EV manufacturer to start production in Thailand, indicating the growing influence of Chinese companies in the Thai EV market.

💡Supply Chain

A supply chain refers to the network of organizations, people, activities, information, and resources involved in producing and delivering a product or service. The script discusses the challenges and opportunities for local Thai component manufacturers to be part of the EV supply chain, emphasizing the need for local industry to adapt and grow with the EV market.

💡Charging Infrastructure

Charging infrastructure refers to the facilities and systems required to recharge electric vehicles. The script notes the current shortage of public charging points in Thailand and the importance of expanding this infrastructure to support the adoption of EVs.

💡Subsidies

Subsidies are financial incentives provided by the government to encourage certain activities, such as the purchase of electric vehicles. The script mentions government subsidies for EV buyers in Thailand, which aim to make EVs more affordable and boost their adoption.

💡HM Motor

HM Motor is a homegrown Thai company in the EV market, which started by making electric bikes. The script highlights HM Motor's efforts to gain traction in commercial and private sectors, showcasing the potential for local brands to compete in the EV market.

💡eTukTuk

An eTukTuk refers to a three-wheeled vehicle, commonly known as a tuk-tuk, that is powered by electricity. The script discusses the operational challenges and opportunities for eTukTuks in Thailand, including the potential for government support to encourage their adoption.

💡30 at 30

The '30 at 30' target refers to Thailand's ambitious plan to ensure that at least 30% of all vehicles produced in the country will be zero-emission vehicles by 2030. The script underscores this goal as a key part of Thailand's strategy to promote EVs and reduce emissions.

Highlights

Chinese automaker BYD overtook Tesla as the world's top electric vehicle producer.

Thailand, with Toyota's 60-year presence, is leading the industry towards an electric future.

Thailand's Prime Minister SATA TOEN is actively seeking foreign investments to boost the economy and attract EV brands.

Thailand is the largest automotive producer in Southeast Asia and ranks 10th globally.

The Thai government aims to make Thailand a world-class EV production hub.

Thailand's Board of Investment has approved 24 projects for car makers to produce various EV types.

Over half a million EV units could be produced annually in Thailand.

Thailand is focusing on key parts manufacturing, especially batteries for EVs.

BYD opened its first Thai plant in Rayong Province, capable of producing 150,000 EV units annually.

BYD's investment in Thailand is seen as a boost to bilateral relations between China and Thailand.

Great Wall Motor (GWM) became the first Chinese EV manufacturer to start production in Thailand.

Local Thai component manufacturers anticipate increased opportunities with the EV industry's growth.

Thailand's push for EVs is creating a competitive environment for local and foreign brands.

HM Motor, a Thai EV market player, is focusing on electric bikes for commercial use.

The Thai government is providing subsidies to consumers buying electric vehicles.

Thailand currently has 9,700 public charging points for its growing EV fleet.

The Thai government's target is to have 30% of all vehicles produced to be zero-emission by 2030.

The 2024 Bangkok Motor Show saw 1.6 million attendees and significant EV sales.

The availability of charging stations is a key concern for EV drivers in Thailand.

Delta Electronics, a global consultancy firm, is operational in Thailand, focusing on EV charging stations.

Transcripts

the 2024 Bangkok motor

show from byd the Chinese automaker that

overtook Tesla as the world's top e

producer to Toyota which has been making

cars here in Thailand for over 60 years

leading industry players are all present

as Thailand andb box on an electric

future

[Music]

Thailand is open for

business we will make it easier for

businesses to try in

Thailand businessman SATA toen became

Thailand's 30th prime minister last

September since then he's been

tirelessly wooing foreign Investments to

boost the country's

economy and attracting leading electric

vehicle Brands to setup shop in Thailand

has been one of his government's key

initiatives Thailand already dominates

the Region's automotive industry but it

wants to ensure it's not left behind as

the industry goes electric Thailand is

the largest production base of

Automotive in Southeast Asia and uh we

rank number 10 in the world as the world

is moving towards the

electrification Thai government has

strong intention to make Thailand become

a world- class EV production Hub

Thailand's Board of investment or Boi

has already approved 24 projects by car

makers they'll produce in the country

EVS of all types including fully

electric vehicles and hybrid ones more

than half a million EV units could roll

off the assembly line every year apart

from the vehicle production we also

Focus on the key parts manufacturing in

Thailand the most important parts of the

EV is the battery so far the Bui have

already Grant the promotion to the

battery makers more than 40 Projects the

government would like to promote

Thailand as a production based for

battery

sell the Boi is optimistic about the

road ahead for Thailand's EV sector it

expects that in the next 5 years EV and

EV related Investments could amount to

5.5 billion

US 1,500 Tangi shipped to Norway in 2021

one of the biggest names in EV is byd in

2023 the Chinese car maker beat Tesla to

become the world's biggest Electric

Vehicle Manufacturer today our footprint

has covered more than 54 countries in

regions around the world on July 4th byd

opened its first plant in Thailand

located in one of the key provinces for

the auto making

sector on the same day the plant

delivered byd's 8 millionth EV unit this

is the first look and a very rare one at

that inside byd's production facility

located in rayong Province about 3 hours

drive from Bangkok this facility

occupies 950,000 square m and is

equivalent to

132 football fields and moving ahead the

facility will be able to produce

150,000 EV units

annually but beyond economic benefits

byd's investment is seen as another

boost to bilateral relations between

China and

[Music]

Thailand for decades Japanese car makers

have made Thailand their Regional

production base but right now Chinese

companies have come on strong in the EV

sector and are setting up factories in

Thailand

[Music]

Great Wall motor or gwm one of China's

biggest SUV makers became the first

Chinese EV manufacturer to start

production in Thailand with the first

units emerging this year from its plant

in rayong which used to be a factory for

the American brand General Motors

[Music]

the vehicle manufacturing industry in

Thailand has spawned an entire ecosystem

of support Industries made up of many

local companies and they're seeing the

entry of global EB Brands into Thailand

as a vehicle of opportunity for them

such aluminum parts are made for the

likes of Japanese and American car

manufacturers these components go into

making suspension or air conditioning

systems in the internal combustion Eng

engine vehicles but these parts can also

be used for the exact purposes in

electric vehicles that's why with

Thailand's push to boost the EV industry

here in this country many of the local

Thai component manufacturers are

anticipating increased opportunities and

greater growth as they'll be part of the

EV supply chain Tha metal aluminum has

been in business since 1984 making door

frames and parts of the vehicle

suspension system but soon this

40-year-old High company will be

churning out products required by

electric vehicles to stay relevant the

challenge we are going to face is that

all the EV companies all the EV makers

they will have their own Supply chains

from abroad and once they set up their

operation in Thailand the easiest way

for them to do is just to bring all

their current Supply suppliers from

abroad to set up the oper ation in

Thailand so the challenge for us is to

make sure that we get involved if we

don't do that then the local makers will

have no participation in this market

right and by participating in supplying

parts for Ev in a way we grow our

technology we grow our capability and

Manufacturing is very important that you

keep making new parts so that you make

new skill you make new develop velopment

along the way you do a lot of research

and development for the process so it's

just helped build up the country Global

consultancy firm ycp solidance in

Thailand has seen external inquiries

regarding the electric vehicle sector

double compared with two years ago and

it feels that with more EV foreign

investments in Thailand more jobs and

new employment opportunities could also

follow with the up skill in terms of the

don't knowledge of like in EV industry

uh if we have um sufficient support in

terms of like the uh people skill set to

to match with the demand in the market

that will bring a lot of value we should

not be just a worker to work on those

factories but then how can we obtain

those knowledge those know how and build

our own core strength core knowledge in

this

sector a firm that's bringing foreign

technical expertise to Thailand is the

Taiwan headquartered Delta Electronics

it has been operational in Thailand for

35 years Delta makes among other things

EV charging stations in March Delta

opened another new plant its eth in

Thailand and a research and development

center in the Kingdom two Mega Trend

right now going on in the world one is

the uh um Global Climate uh

warming um so this uh pushed the uh

industry toward renewable energy and the

second trend of course is the global

geopolitical situation right now the

political conflict with China us does

provide a stimulus to move a lot of

production out of China Thailand serves

as a very important production site for

us for the group of Delta and we're

expecting a great deal of expansion in

this

region China is both the world biggest

EV maker and EV Market it was also the

first country that SATA TOS visited

after becoming prime minister as he

tried to return Thailand to Greater

political stability after a

controversial election season critical

for assuring foreign

[Music]

investors

for I believe we have so far now more

than 10 um companies who already commit

themselves that they would like to

invest in the local production of

electric vehicle which we didn't have at

all in the past years but now would be

the first year that we have this um uh

production base from

Thailand Global EV manufacturers may all

be making the entrance into Thailand but

local Brands aren't ready to take a back

seat some up and coming names when CNA

correspondent

[Music]

returns China's

byd Japan's

Toyota Germany's

BMW but have you heard of hm motor maybe

not hm motor is a homegrown player in

Thailand's EV Market that's only started

to make electric bikes in

2020 and it's trying to get great

traction for them in food delivery

motorbike taxi services and even private

use

the company is dedicating about 20% % of

its business to manufacturing ebikes

mainly for commercial use by the end of

this year it hopes to double that to

40% for a relatively young ebike

manufacturer of just some 4 years this

startup has already seen an increase in

sales last year it made and sold some

1,600 of these electric motorbikes this

year is expecting to more than double

that to some 4,000

and demand is likely to grow as

companies and private users start to

switch and opt for cleaner and Greener

motorbikes battery operated motorbikes

are cheaper lighter and quieter these

are just some of the factors attracting

buyers now just imagine if this becomes

a norm especially with some 22 million

motorbikes on the streets of Thailand

today

[Music]

statistics have shown that Thailand sees

about 32,000 fully electric motorcycles

on the streets today but that only makes

up

0.1% of all the motorbikes in

circulation little attention has been

paid to these three wheelers about

30,000 to TRS are registered in Thailand

with some 9,000 of them concentrated

right here in the capital of Bangkok

move me the ride that I'm in right now

has been operational since 2018 and it's

the first and only electric to to ride

hailing service in

[Music]

Bangkok mve me now operates some 700

electric Tuk TOS in selected locations

around Bangkok and the company hopes to

increase that to 1,000 next year with a

Little Help from the government our to

took be developed by Thai people and

also assemble with the Thai people and

with the Tha company of course there's

some part that we need to use the

component from from abroad and uh it

would be great if government could help

us to uh minimize the cost that happen

during the the import of the part and

this will help the company to build

competitive price and create a business

that can be expand in the future

this move me feels will not just help

the company but it'll also encourage

other Tuk Tok operators to switch to

Electric

three-wheelers as pioneers of electric

Tuk TOS in Thailand mve me hopes to

inspire other operators to convert to e

[Applause]

TOS Nikon kak has been a Tuk Tok rider

for 12 years he he only converted from

the conventional Tuk Tuk which runs on

LPG to eat Tuk Tuk about 3 years ago

[Applause]

EVS would go a long way in helping

Thailand reduce emissions but are

consumers willing to go

[Music]

[Music]

electric the 2024 backup Motor Show ran

for just over a week 1.6 million people

attended over 53,000 Vehicles were

sold and more than a third of them were

EVS perhaps it comes as no surprise the

government has been encouraging Tha

motorists to switch to

electric one major incentive announced

last November is that those buying

electric cars pickup trucks or e-

motorbikes will receive government

subsidies depending on the vehicle types

and battery capacity consumers can enjoy

subsidies from 20,000 tibot or about

$547 per unit up to 100,000 Tha bot or

almost

$3,000 per unit the incentives seem to

be driving more consumers to switch to

electric cars

according to government statistics more

people are registering electric vehicles

over 6 months from October last year to

March this year almost 62,000 EVS were

registered that's a massive jump of

about

130% compared with the same period a

year

ago marketing executive Manon Siri Anan

made the switch to a Chinese made byd

just month ago savings was a major

factor for the 35y old

but it hasn't been an entirely smooth

transition for Manon he has to plan his

driving routes especially across

provinces more carefully to avoid a

depleted battery and waiting in line for

limited charging

stations how convenient it is to charge

their cars on the go is a key concern

for Ev drivers Thailand currently has

some 9,700 public charging points that's

about one public charging station for

every 16 EVS in a country compared to

the global average of one for every 10

and that's a shortfall EV charger

manufacturer Delta Electronics says it

can meet we do see a potential to go out

and uh uh help our partners set up these

charging stations and provide services

and operation to the these charging

stations and go along with that is some

level of energy storage because when

they charge they do draw a lot of energy

Thai government I think to facilitate EV

car businesses one thing they do have to

provide some further support is EV

charging infrastructure without that is

like selling car without gas station

that will not serve the

purpose the availability of charging

stations is also concern for Thailand's

state-owned Metropolitan electricity

Authority or mea its engineers and

maintenance staff often travel around to

repair install and inspect electrical

cables and power supplies 10 years ago

mea in Bangkok started using 10 electric

vehicles today out of almost 2,000 mea

Vehicles almost and 30 of them are

electric

a drawback it discovered with the EVS is

that its drivers need to plan their

inspection routes and activities more

carefully around available charging

stations but the mea says it wants to do

its part and intends to adopt more EVS

having seen benefits including lower

maintenance costs

Thailand is at a crossroad in the

country's journey to promote EVS it

wants to increase the number of EVS on

thae roads it also wants to attract EV

related Investments as the Region's top

automaker Thailand has set itself a

challenging being Target 30 at 30 by

2030 Thailand wants to ensure that at

least 30% of all vehicles produced here

will be zero emission Vehicles industry

observers are confident Thailand is on

the right path looking ahead I'm still

very optimistic on the future because we

see um a good growth that um we have

seen over the past years we have seen a

lot of commitment and with the tangible

result um from the car company that they

already breakr you know for for the

construction in

Thailand for

[Music]