Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has urged Japanese car makers to invest in electric vehicles in Thailand, as the country aims to become the hub of EV production in Southeast Asia.
The prime minister, who is currently leading a Thai delegation in talks with Japanese car makers and other businessmen about investing in Thailand. He also met with Saito Ken, Japan’s minister of economy, trade and industry, on Friday.
The Thai delegates met with representatives of Japanese car makers Toyota, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Suzuki, Nissan and Isuzu.
In talks with Honda executives, the prime minister explained that his government is giving priority to the transition from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs) and urged Honda to accelerate the construction of their EV manufacturing plant in Thailand.
He said he also urged Suzuki to produce electric motorcycles, while Isuzu, a major producer of trucks, informed him that the company plans to invest 32 billion baht in Thailand in the next five years.
Meeting with executives of Toyota, the prime minister assured the Japanese giant maker that his government has been increasing car recharging facilities across the country, to cope with the increasing in EV use.
Meanwhile, Government spokesman Chai Wacharonke said today that the government is determined to transform Thailand into an EV production hub for ASEAN, while maintaining its status as the last production hub for ICE vehicles.
He disclosed that the Board of Investment has approved projects worth an estimated 39 billion baht, for the production of about 359,000 EVs annually, and 35 billion baht in projects to produce vehicle parts.
In the first 11 months of this year, more than 69,000 EVs were registered, a jump of 690% over the same period last year, making Thailand the fastest growing EV market in ASEAN.
He said that the government is also promoting EV conversion of ICE trucks, to promote system integration in the development and production of robotics and the promotion of investment in car battery recycling.
