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Regarding "PHEVs" although BYD had a terrible "Feb" 2026 sales month of only 295 total vehicles registered (but Jan was fantastic for them) of those 295 Feb registrations the BYD Sealion 6 "PHEV" (1.5L ICE engine and electric motor with18Kw EV battery for around 90-100Km of EV Only range) was BYD's best seller for Feb. But remember, the first few months of each year has typically shown wildly variable/distorted registration numbers due to end of year promotions, holidays like Chinese New Year, and other factors which typically causes HIGH Jan registrations and LOW Feb registrations for most brands/models. Below car250 new release has a variety of registration info for Feb 2026....some partial quotes below....go to weblink for full details. https://www.car250.com/february-th-2026.html

Some vehicles manufacturers do not report bookings during a motor show event like the Motor Expo 2025 a few months ago or the ongoing Motor Show 2026; they will only report bookings upon conclusion of the event "if" they have policy to report bookings at all. A few manufacturers have a policy of not even reporting bookings. Polices vary among vehicle manufacturers as to "when and if" they report bookings....guess it depends on how the manufacturer executives feel how beneficial (or non-beneficial) such reporting is....it can be double edge sword. What the "event organizer" will often do to try to fill-in the booking holes created by those manufacturers who delay or do not directly report bookings (or do not report at all) as the organizer will try to create a booking "estimate" based customers who enroll in an event "win a car/some prize contest" only available to those who book/reserve a car during the event period. Example: a person books/reserves a new vehicle during the motor show event period which allows the person to register for some "prize/contest"....only those which can prove they booked a vehicle can complete the prize registration process. Proof is typically a scanned/uploaded copy of a booking, some QR code/other code possibly issued during the booking, etc. Since the prize registration is via an event organizer controlled website (not a vehicle manufacturer website) if say 200 people registered yesterday proving they booked say a BYD vehicle (or whatever brand) the event organizer uses that as a booking number estimate although the vehicle manufacturer did not report any booking number per their policy. I expect most anyone who booked a vehicle and had proof of doing such would register for the prize/contest...heck, I would if spending just a few minutes of registering a booking could result in me winning a car, some big cash amount, just some nice prize, etc., although I know my chances of winning are low---I'm only human. Also, keep in mind these bookings typically represent not only booking occurring right a the motor show event location (like the Impact Arena in Nonthaburi) but also booking from across Thailand/at each dealership during the motor show event timeframe. Collecting the booking/reservation numbers "daily" from numerous dealerships across the country (like BYD which has over a 100 dealerships) is mostly likely not as easy of a task you might think it should be especially when some dealerships might be slow reporters, make errors in reporting, etc. In such cases it might be best just to have the dealership report to headquarters "one time" for effort/efficiency purposes which would be the morning after the motor show concluded...and then the dealerships headquarters provides a number to the event organizer if the vehicle manufacturer has such a policy. So, take these press releases saying "X-amount of motor show event bookings so far" with a BIG grain of salt as they may be ballpark, best-guess numbers not always based on "direct reporting from the vehicle manufacturer to the event organizer." I think most people have heard the phrase of "close enough for government work'.....well, maybe these motor show booking numbers should be considered "close enough for motor show press release purposes."

With Neta now selling very few vehicles in Thailand I expect they are close to the end....they been threading water for around a year now. Ministry of Finance has started legal action to sue Neta to recover 2 billion baht in govt subsidies. See weblink below for full story....some partial quotes below....as of mid Jan 2026. https://carwikihub.com/blogs/thai-finance-ministry-sues-neta-ev-subsidies/ The Thai Ministry of Finance announced plans to file a civil lawsuit against Neta Auto Thailand, the local subsidiary of Chinese electric‑vehicle (EV) brand Neta, in order to reclaim more than 2 billion baht (approximately US$63.7 million) in government subsidies paid since 2022. Legal Action and Potential ConsequencesThe Ministry intends to pursue the case through civil litigation, seeking not only repayment of the subsidies but also the possible freezing of Neta Auto Thailand’s assets and bank accounts. If the court rules in favour of the government, authorities will gain the legal basis to seize the company’s assets within Thailand to recover the funds.

Regarding the latest-and-greatest model/version being sold in Thailand when I was at the Motor Show yesterday I asked a Zeekr and a BYD rep (both could speak pretty fair English) when the latest version (MY2026) of the Zeekr 7X and BYD Sealion 7, respectively, would arrive Thailand. They looked at me like I was asking them to divulge Top Secret company info, gave me a Deer In The Headlights look, etc. Before asking that question I figured I wouldn't get any definitive answer since their job is to sell "current" models and sell them ASAP....they know telling a potential customer the next model is expected to arrive Thailand say 4 months from now (just for discussion purposes) would almost always result in "no sell today....no commission now, the customer waiting 4 months to buy, etc." Yea, I didn't really expect any definitive answer...and that's exactly what I got. And on a lighter note the number of "pretties" standing next to new vehicles this year at the Motor Show is far less than what the Motor Expo had in December. ☹️

UPDATE: Based on below 27 Mar 2026 article it looks like the upgraded Atto 3 with 800V charging, bigger motor(s), RWD, AWD, etc., may not be coming to Asian markets like Thailand anytime soon after all....only China and Europe to get the major upgraded model. Thailand will need to continue with last year's models (or the year before that), hand-me-down EV models versus the "lastest-and-greatest" models like sold in mainland China and sometimes Europe. https://www.car250.com/byd-atto-3-minor-change-hongkong.html

Guess the PM likes BYD. I wonder how long he will keep the red tags on? 😃

Probably a long shot but maybe some new badges on the M6 would satisfy the wife? 😃 Lazada 9

Just to get a feel how well (or bad) the Atto 2 may sell in Thailand below is EV registrations for "Feb 2026 in Malaysia." Only 20 Atto 2's were sold....maybe Atto 2 sales are fizzling-out after its launch 7 months earlier in late Jul 2025. But February is probably a slow sales month each year like how it's slow in China, Thailand, etc., around the Chinese New Year....just a slow selling period based on recent years. Additionally, only one month of stats is just a brief snapshot in time. Top 30 EV models in Malaysia for February 2026https://soyacincau.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/260310-malaysia-ev-registration-feb-2026-top-30-ev-models-1-578x1024.jpg

Ouch!!!!....this will probably help "EV" sales. But it will probably hurt "overall sales (ICE/Hybrid/EV combined)" as it will make many people feel uneasy about the economy, their job, buying a big ticket item like a vehicle. Fuel prices in Bangkok area as of 26 March 2026.

Just to get a feel of how well (or bad) the Atto 2 may sell in Thailand below is how well it sold in Malaysia in 2025.....it was the 6th best selling EV. https://automacha.com/here-are-the-30-best-selling-evs-in-malaysia-in-2025/ Top 30 Most Registered EV Models In Malaysia (2025) Ranking Model Total Registrations (Jan – Dec 2025) 1 Proton e.MAS 7 8,677 2 BYD Sealion 7 4,454 3 Tesla Model Y 4,401 4 BYD Atto 3 4,069 5 Tesla Model 3 2,880 6 BYD Atto 2 1,779 7 BYD M6 1,683 8 Zeekr 7X 1,510 9 BYD Seal 6 1,279 10 Denza D9 1,200 11 BYD Seal 1,056 12 Zeekr 009 914 13 XPeng G6 892 14 Chery iCaur 03 836 15 Chery Omoda E5 647 16 XPeng X9 644 17 Leapmotor C10 500 18 GWM Ora Good Cat / 07 446 19 Porsche Taycan 421 20 Smart #1 / #3 / #5 414 21 BMW iX2 405 22 Mercedes-Benz EQE 326 23 Porsche Macan EV 318 24 BMW i5 316 25 MG4 294 26 MINI Aceman 286 27 BMW iX1 279 28 Volvo EX30 275 29 BMW i4 239 30 Proton e.MAS 5 213

No doubt some of the MG4 hatchback technical specs are better, but the Atto 2 SUV interior and exterior appearance will surely win many people over as a vehicle's "first impression" interior and exterior-wise are the biggest factors in whether a person ends up liking a vehicle or not. I liked the Atto 2 interior and exterior when I gave it a few minutes look-over today at a BYD dealership....the interior size really surprised me and very nice seats. Below is how AI feels about an Atto 2 and MG4 comparison.

While waiting on the wife to turn her grey hair into black hair at a beauty shop I went to a nearby BYD dealership to kill time and take a brief look at the BYD Atto 1 and 2. Based on just a few minutes of looking at and setting in each model I was impressed with the Atto 2. It looks good inside and out. And feels pretty roomy. Now the Atto 1 was too small for my liking.

BYD started selling EVs in Thailand in 2022...the Atto 3 model. Now in early 2026 they are selling the 11 models shown below in Thailand...3 hybrid models (the DM-i models) and 8 BEV (100% electric) models. Oh, how times have changed. https://www.reverautomotive.com/en

BYD in price cutting mood. https://www.car250.com/ And below is the BYD Motor Show promotion "just before above the price cut." Below snapshot is from a local BYD dealership website which hasn't updated to the latest promotion yet. Once again, I expect folks who bought the M6 over the last 6 weeks or so are now PO'ed.

The motor show promotions are almost always nation-wide at any dealership. You do not need to attend the show in Bangkok to get the same pricing/deal. Typically to reserve/buy a vehicle at the motor show you fill out the same paperwork and place a deposit of Bt3K to Bt10K "just like you would at your local dealership." Backing out of the reservation can result in loss of the deposit...the deposit paperwork you sign will state the rules that can result in forfeiture of the deposit. Just because you make a reservation deposit does not lock you into completing the buy.

BYD getting into the price cutting again....and definitely offering plenty of choices in the small SUV arena. BYD Dolphin pricing....a BIG up to Bt120K price cut. BYD Atto "1" pricing BYD Atto "2" pricing

AION UT pricing increased Bt80K in mid January (1st image below)....but now in late March reduced Bt30K (2nd image below). That should PO those who bought since the mid Jan increase. Up Bt80K in January Down Bt30K in March.

For those interested in getting a PHEV you might want to read below article/report...and also take a look at below Youtube video which talks about the report. With a PHEV you are probably not getting anything close to fuel savings advertised and that you hoped for when buying the PHEV because the petrol-powered engine actually runs more often than you are aware of....sometimes running in EV Mode only. Before I thought that when a PHEV is in the "EV Only" mode and assuming it had battery charge remaining that it would indeed run off the battery only, but that's not how it works unless maybe you are driving conservatively on a flat road with no stopping. https://electriccarsreport.com/2026/02/phevs-use-more-fuel-than-advertised-major-study-finds/#:~:text=The%20Study:%20Real%2DWorld%20Data,What%20is%20this? PHEVs Use More Fuel Than Advertised, Major Study Finds The promise of the Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) has always been a seductive one: the “best of both worlds.” You get enough all-electric range for the daily commute and a combustion engine to kill range anxiety for weekend road trips. On paper, it’s the perfect bridge to a fully electric future. But new real-world data suggests that promise doesn’t always hold up. A comprehensive study by Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute found that many PHEVs consume significantly more fuel in everyday driving than their official lab ratings suggest — in some cases, up to three times more. The Study: Real-World Data From 1 Million PHEVs...... (go to above weblink for full article). A Youtube video talking above PHEV study. AI query result Recent studies analyzing data from approximately 1 million plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) in Europe have revealed significant discrepancies between official fuel efficiency ratings and real-world usage . While manufacturers often claim extremely low fuel consumption, the study shows that in practice, these vehicles consume significantly more fuel than advertised, particularly when they are not regularly recharged by their owners. Key Findings from the 1 Million Vehicle Study: Fuel Consumption: Real-world fuel consumption for PHEVs is often three times higher than the official laboratory-tested figures. Performance: Instead of the 1–2 liters per 100 km promised, actual usage is closer to 6 liters per 100 km, similar to conventional cars, according to a report from the Fraunhofer Institute. Charging Habits: The research suggests that many drivers, particularly those with company cars, do not charge their vehicles frequently, leading to higher fuel consumption. Inefficiency in Practice: The study indicated that some luxury brands, such as Porsche, showed particularly high fuel usage, with some vehicles operating on electric power for only a tiny fraction of their total mileage.

No, the end date of your monthly data allotment of 2GB which is 2 years (or 2 years 3 months if you got the updated SIM) after receiving your BYD and the end date of the BYD map software which is 3 years after receiving your BYD vehicle are two different animals....two different dates. My monthly data allotment of 2GB expired several months and I've been using my phone hotspot function ever since for a vehicle data connection while driving. Actually I was suppose to get 2 years 3 months since I got the SIM update but the data allotment died after around 2 years or maybe 2 years 1 month. Without a data connection certain functions on Google Maps or BYD maps will not work like current traffic conditions, recommended routing, etc. But with the BYD map there is another date to be concerned about....their "Connected Services Expiration" date which you can see by going into the "About" selection in the BYD map settings. After this expiration date "All connected services, including real-time traffic updates, online search, and online routing, will be unavailable....." See below snapshot I took this morning. In my case the BYD map Connected Services Expiration date is 25 Oct 2026 which just happens to be exactly three years from the date I picked up my Atto in 25 Oct 2023. Now that exactly 3 years date could just be a coincidence but my bet it isn't....my bet is tried to the date you drove your new BYD vehicle home from the dealership. And I also remember about a year ago when the BYD map software (by TeleNav Software) did a major update where its menus appearance/setting change significantly (t was an OTA update at home and "not" part of a vehicle OTA update....it was just an update of the BYD map software only) that the software provided a summary/comments at the end of the update that after the expiration date that a person would need to subscribe directly with TeleNav Software to retain full functionality like online real time updates, routing, etc. Now I do not know if that "Connected Services Expiration" date might be extended when BYD does an OTA update to update "all" the software on the vehicle (no just a standalone map update)....or, if that BYD map Connected Services Expiration date is tied to the date you picked up your new BYD vehicle with a 3 year period for full BYD map services....kinda, like their Data Allotment period of 2 years worth of data...after that you have to use hotspot functionality.

Yea, the SL7 onboard charger is a 11KW charger when using 3 phase (16A max per phase) or 7KW when using single phase (32A max). Regarding the BYD maps, yea, it could be better. Unless something has changed you can only save a max of 20 Favorite locations, the zoom in and out returns to the default zoom level after about 30 seconds (this really bugs me as I like to select my zoom level), and just a variety of other things I don't like when compared to Google Maps. I use Google Maps running under GPack on my Atto. Running Google Maps under Gpack (installed by BYD dealership) is better than running it under Android Auto/Apple CarPlay which seems to act like a handicapped Google Maps. Under Gpack Google Maps is just like running it on your smartphone....no limitations like when running under Android Auto/Apple Carplay. I prefer Google Maps to other map programs as I'm use to Google Maps, I have Google Maps on my smartphones, and when you switch vehicles as long as the vehicle has Google Maps once you log into your Google acct you now have your personalized Favorite map locations again. Plus, after X-amount of years the BYD map program will stop updating/will not show certain things like traffic jams/road conditions ahead of you unless you subscribe directly with the BYD map company. Yeap, Google Maps is the way to go.

The D-Max EV costs a "lot" more than Isuzu ICE trucks.....like twice as much as a Isuzu ICE 4 door pickup at Bt749K. Expect only a few "gentleman" farmers and some cities folks will buy the D-Max EV since it costs so much more than an Isuzu ICE truck. https://www.isuzu-tis.com/isuzu-x-series

The 7X Standard and Long Range models have different seats from the AWD. The Standard/LR have "Soft PU" seats while the AWD has "NAPPA" seats (real leather). Additionally, the Standard model front seats do not have the "ventilation and massage" functions but the LR and AWD front seats do have ventilation and massage along with some additional seat adjustments the Standard model does not have. Knowing exactly which model you were setting in could make a significant difference in how the seats feel. And I expect once the seats get broke-in a little they would feel somewhat different like how a demo model gets set-in a lot.

Yea, the Zeekr X was not selling well. While a very nice compact SUV its price was surely suppressing sales. All the "premium/luxury/HiSo" sales tactics in the world couldn't help. Plus with a ton of similar sized competitors like the MG4 the Zeekr X either needed a big price reduction and/or major upgrade--and it got both especially with the price reduction. It should sell significantly better now. Below are the DLT registration stats for Jan and Feb 2026 (posted earlier)...as shown the X model was not moving well. Even the number of January registrations was only 24 which would have included sales from the 2-13 Dec 2025 Motor Expo which is a big sales event...and event people wait for to buy cars. And then February registrations was a low 17. Not very impressive sales stats. And with February typically being a slow sales/registration month I was a little surprised to see the 7X stats actually being higher than Jan. Seems the 7X is selling fine, but I'm sure Zeekr wants to to sell more. A few days ago on a Sunday afternoon when the wife and I was driving by the Zeekr dealership on Ratchaprueh Rd here in western Bangkok we drove into their parking lot to take a closer look and there was lot of customers in the showroom and also around 50 new vehicles (looking like fresh off the boat) setting in their storage parking lot---probably 40 of the 50 were 7X models. Don't know if that means the 7X is selling good or they are just overstocked with 7X models....I'm leaning towards the reason being selling good.

Amen to faster releases. When a Thailand customer is very interested in whatever brand/model currently available in Thailand but then reads an updated model was just released in the motherland (China) that customer will naturally balk at buying now....instead, kickback and wait for the updated model to hopefully arrive Thailand. I'm in that "balking" frame of mind right now.

I've watched Zeekr Thailand pretty closely since late 2025 and I haven't seen "any" price drops up until this updated Zeekr X model release. No price drops on their various X, 7X, or 009 models (i.e., all models they sell in Thailand). Now maybe there have been some price drops that I just didn't see. It seems in place of any price cut Zeekr Thailand would instead maybe offer an extra year or two of 1st class insurance on some models, free charging for X-amount of time, etc. It was like cutting/lowering the price was a Zeekr commandant they would not break...I just assumed it to be their "premium/luxury" vehicle marketing strategy. And even at their website https://www.zeekrlife.com/en-th/ the price of their models may not be listed or listed sometimes in small text. Like I just went to their website and where they use to list the price of their models in small text under a picture of the model now there is no pricing...the pricing disappeared a week or two ago....maybe around the 1st of March. But you can find some pricing on their various Facebook pages. It just seems Zeekr did not want to play the "price war" game in selling cars....but maybe they are now willing to dip their toes in "cutting prices." They will definitely have my attention if they do drop pricing because I'm very interested in their 7X Long Range model and possibly their 7X AWD model but I've been waiting for the "updated MY2026" model to arrive Thailand (probably later this year) and hopefully with a price cut of a few hundred thousand baht. Time will tell.