matchar

https://autolifethailand.tv/official-price-discount-gac-hyptec-ht-ev-motor-show-2026/ I think this is the lowest price yet, it was previously on sale for 1,249,000 last year. I'm surprised it hasn't been more popular as it's 800V architecture, unlike the Thai version of the BYD Sealion 7.

There is still a domestic gas supply as well as gas from Myanmar.

Both brands are fairly niche in Thailand at the moment. I would be looking at a car that has sold many units like the MG 4 so spare parts will not be an issue further down the line. After the MG 4 facelift is revealed at the motor show, there should be some good deals on the old model. Also the new interior looks a lot nicer and I don't think the price of the new model will be much higher, maybe around 599k (but it also depends if they have upgraded the battery or not).

Chery, Omoda and Jaecoo recently cancelled the opening ceremony of their factory in Rayong at very short notice. It all seems a bit fishy to me. https://autolifethailand.tv/chery-omoda-jaecoo-cancel-factory-ceremony-thailand/ Some people are speculating the factory is actually just a parts storage warehouse as the site is too small?

The refreshed interior MG 4 is set be be launched in Thailand at the end of March. No sign yet of whether or not it will include the upgraded 64 kWh LFP battery that the European model has. And no news yet about the MG 4 Urban. https://autolifethailand.tv/mg4-electric-2026-ev-bev-coming-thailand-motor-show/

https://www.carwow.co.uk/news/10258/mg4-vs-mg4-urban-twin-test-tom-wiltshire The MG 4 has been updated in the UK with a much improved interior and a cheaper price. The entry level MG 4 Urban has also launched there at lower price making it one of the cheapest new cars in the UK. The Urban is FWD to cut manufacturing costs but is also slightly bigger with significantly more interior space due to the cell-to-body battery pack. Both models will probably be coming to Thailand later this year, it will be interesting to see the local pricing.

The Leapmotor B10 looks like a good car with good reviews, and is also RWD. Overall quality looks better than Jaecoo but obviously it's not quite as cheap although still good value.

Thai people on Facebook have been reporting issues with the air conditioning drain pipe (translated and summarised with AI below): In the Jaecoo 5 EV (and related Omoda C5 EV), the air conditioning (AC) drain pipe often fails to extend beyond the vehicle's body, causing water to drip onto internal components rather than the ground. Why the drain pipe is short Design Oversight: To optimize aerodynamics, EVs use extensive underbody panels. The drain pipe may be designed too short or misaligned with these panels, causing water to pool behind them. Cost & Assembly: Lengthening the rubber hose to clear the undercarriage requires extra parts and more precise factory installation, which is sometimes skipped to simplify manufacturing. Long-term Risks Chassis Rust: Constant moisture on the subframe or suspension mounts can lead to premature corrosion and structural damage. Battery Risks: In some cases, water may drip onto or near the high-voltage battery casing, potentially causing rust on fuse covers or compromising seals over time. Mold & Odors: If the underbody panels are made of absorbent fibers, they can trap water, leading to mold growth and unpleasant smells. Panel Damage: Daily exposure to water can cause fiber or composite underbody covers to sag, rot, or eventually fall off. Recommended Action Owners are increasingly seeking to extend the AC drain pipe themselves or via third-party shops, though some centers have issued warnings that unauthorized modifications could affect your warranty

No I think the 10% is standard. Now only locally produced models have the reduced 2% excise tax, hence the large price increase on the BYD Sealion 7 (loss of 75k subsidy plus another 100k or so in excise tax). Now imported and locally produced PHEVs have an excise tax of only 5% in 2026 and they also have much lower insurance costs than pure EVs. I think my next car will be a PHEV. I would prefer a pure EV but the price of insurance puts me off.

"Rêver Automotive, BYD’s distributor, expects total 2025 sales to reach nearly 50,000 units (with registrations at 44,636). Executives have confirmed that BYD ATTO 3 and BYD DOLPHIN will move up in price as previously announced, with new pricing being prepared and awaiting approval from the Excise Department. Imported models have already been repriced. BYD Sealion 7 is up 190,000 baht to 1,264,900-1,364,900 baht, while BYD M6 has risen 160,000 baht to 909,900-1,009,900 baht." Perhaps BYD are negotiating their production quota and subsidies with the Excise Department?

https://www.nationthailand.com/business/automobile/40061166 Chinese automakers are raising EV prices for 2026 after EV3.0 ended and EV3.5 cut subsidies to 50,000 baht for locally built models, while imports lose support and face 10% excise. Chinese automakers are rolling out new, higher EV price lists for 2026 after the government’s EV3.0 scheme ended and was replaced by EV3.5, which reduces support and changes incentives, particularly for imported models. Under EV3.5, the subsidy has been cut to 50,000 baht and applies only to vehicles assembled in Thailand. Imported models are not eligible for benefits and face a higher excise tax of 10%, up from 2%, if brought in under EV3.5 conditions.

It is not exactly crystal clear...as of the date of that Nation article, they still had 30,000 left to produce. How many of those 70,000 were produced before that date? And how many cars did BYD import in 2025? I think MG and GWM have announced they successfully met their production quotas. Whereas BYD have been rather quiet on that topic, unless I missed their announcement. Seems to me if they did meet their quota they would want to brag about it.

This is from AI so it might not be 100% accurate: Production Quota Status While BYD significantly ramped up production at its Rayong plant—reaching a milestone of 70,000 vehicles by late 2025—it did not fully clear all historical offset obligations by the end of the year. Partial Fulfillment: BYD used its high-volume production of the Dolphin and Atto 3 to offset a large portion of its 2022–2024 imports. The Rollover: Under a special provision approved by the EV Board, any production commitment not completed by the end of 2025 was transferred to the EV 3.5 scheme. Export Strategy: To accelerate compliance, BYD became the first manufacturer to utilize the "export credit" rule, where exporting a Thai-made car counts as 1.5 units toward their local production quota. Consequences of the 2026 Rollover Because BYD transitioned remaining obligations into EV 3.5, it faces stricter operational conditions starting January 1, 2026: Stricter Ratios: Any imported vehicles from 2025 that were not offset by year-end must now be matched by domestic production at a higher ratio of 1:2 by 2026 or 1:3 by 2027. Subsidy Suspension: Government policy dictates that EV 3.5 subsidies for new models will only be disbursed once the manufacturer has fully completed its transferred EV 3.0 production debt.

I don't think that many have been exported yet, but they will probably ramp it up going forwards to tariff free markets such as the UK and Australia. I've yet to see any confirmation that BYD have successfully met their local production quota though, please share if you have.

The 2025 150,000 EV 3.0 subsidy only applied to certain models produced locally such as Atto 3 and Dolphin. In 2025 imported models such as the Sealion 7 received a 75,000 subsidy and also excise tax reduction. From 2026 imported models are no longer eligible for any subsidy or excise tax reduction unless they plan to start local production of that specific model.

Transition to EV 3.5: Due to a general market slowdown in 2024–2025, the Thai EV Board allowed manufacturers (including BYD) to postpone unmet EV 3.0 production commitments: The Deferred Ratio: Any production not completed by the end of 2025 must now be fulfilled under EV 3.5 conditions at a stricter ratio of 1:2 by 2026 or 1:3 by 2027. Subsidy Impact: Models like the BYD Dolphin and Atto 3 officially transitioned from the 150,000 THB EV 3.0 subsidy to a lower 50,000 THB subsidy under EV 3.5 starting January 1, 2026. It will be interesting to find out how much of their production quota they carried forwards as the stricter ratios could lead to oversupply.

The EV 3.5 subsidies are still continuing to offer up to 50,000 baht off in 2026, but only for cars assembled in Thailand. This has reduced slightly from 75,000 in 2025. It looks like the MG 4 has had a modest price increase roughly equal to this 25,000 reduction in subsidy.

The Excise Department is preparing to file a lawsuit to protect its interests. Sources from the Ministry of Finance revealed to Prachachat Business that, following NETA, a Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, withdrawing its investment from Thailand and returning to China , the Excise Department is currently preparing legal action to track down and investigate the company's assets. NETA received investment promotion under the electric vehicle ( EV3) and EV3.5 incentive programs , which were subsidized by the government. Asset tracing will now focus on NETA Auto (Thailand) Co., Ltd., which is registered in Thailand, as the law does not permit pursuing assets from companies in China. Authorities are aiming to pursue legal action against bank guarantees resulting from the EV 3.0 initiative. Sources indicate that in its lawsuit against NETA regarding its eligibility for benefits under the EV 3.0 scheme, NETA allegedly used a method of hiring factories in Thailand to manufacture electric vehicles, presumably with bank guarantees as collateral. "We need to recover the assets to get the money back. For the portion that received incentives under the EV 3.0 scheme, NETA hired factories in Thailand to produce the vehicles, and it's understood that bank guarantees were used. We will have to pursue the funds from those contracted manufacturers," the source stated.

I'm fairly sure the excise tax on EVs is still reduced to 2%. Low emission HEVs and PHEVs with a large battery have just had excise tax reduced to 5% so expect some good deals on these going forwards.

Tesla have just launched the budget Model 3 Standard at a competitive price in Thailand.It looks quite good value for money now after the Chinese brands raised their prices. Teslas also have much better efficiency, longer range and faster charging compared to BYD models available in Thailand.

The Jaecoo 5 has just launched in Australia too for around 770,000 baht without any subsidies for the top spec. However I noticed the Australian version has 7 airbags whereas the Thai version has only 6. It hasn't been tested yet, but Jaecoo are expecting a 5 star safety rating from ANCAP. Of course, many brands like to advertise their 5 star Western safety ratings while selling a different "less safe" version in Thailand. Caveat emptor.

I have been doing some research on the safety features in new cars in Thailand, specifically the number of airbags. Nearly all new cars only come with 6 airbags as standard. BYD seems to be ahead of the game here, the Dolphin only has 6 airbags but the Atto 3 has 7 with the additional front centre airbag to prevent the driver and front passenger from colliding in a side impact. And the BYD Seal and Sea Lion 7 have an impressive 9 airbags with two additional airbags for the rear passengers. Now if I was spending 1M+ baht on a new car I would expect for it to have at least 7 airbags so that puts BYD at the top of my list. I like the style of the Deepal S07 more than the BYD Sea Lion 7 (which imo looks quite boring) but unfortunately the Deepal only has 6 airbags. https://www.euroncap.com/en/car-safety/the-ratings-explained/adult-occupant-protection/lateral-impact/far-side-impact/

A lot of the cheaper espresso machines use a pressurised basket with a single hole at the bottom so it's not real espresso. And if you grind too fine they start to choke. The restricted opening creates the flow resistance rather than the coffee puck.

I eventually bought a Nespresso machine with aluminium capsules, it's a bit pricier but it makes very good coffee and no faffing about grinding, brewing etc. I wouldn't recommend the Nescafé Dolce Gusto machine with the plastic capsules though, that makes terrible coffee.

The updated Toyota bZ4X is actually competitively priced in Australia and looks quite decent for around 1.2 million baht. https://www.whichcar.com.au/news/toyota-bz4x-facelift-australia-wnew-features-10k-price-cut