Electric Vehicles in Thailand

[Alotoftravel]

I test drive Sealion 7 today.  I like the car look a lot but need to decide whether to go with the premium or performance.

 

I wanted to test the premium version  but Dealer only had performance model . I felt the power for sure but thought the steering ride was delayed and loose, understandable as this is a large car with lots of HP.

 

However I wonder if the premium has better control , less body roll since it is lighter and has less torque power. Dealer told me that they might have a premium to test drive next month but of course I will miss out on the dec 10 promo deadline. Anyone tested the premium and  give me your thoughts . Thanks for your inputs.

[Pib]

1 hour ago, carlyai said:

Thanks. So the Sealion 7 they are selling in Thailand can't be upgraded to the new platform?

It's a hardware update, not a software update?

What is the km range with the new platform and when would updated vehicles probably make it to Thailand?

 

 

 

[Alotoftravel]

11 minutes ago, matchar said:

 

If looking for an SUV, also check out the Geely EX5, it's a bit cheaper

 

Yes, I was also looking at Geely too. good comparable to bad  Otto 3 extended ( my 2nd choice after Sealion 7 premium) .   My personal issues were that there was no Geely dealer in chiang mai and if I order a car,  it will be registered and delivered from BKK.

 

So I have to wait for them to setup shop in CNX. 

 

[Pib]

24 minutes ago, Alotoftravel said:

 

Yes, I was also looking at Geely too. good comparable to bad  Otto 3 extended ( my 2nd choice after Sealion 7 premium) .   My personal issues were that there was no Geely dealer in chiang mai and if I order a car,  it will be registered and delivered from BKK.

 

So I have to wait for them to setup shop in CNX. 

 

What kind of dealership/service center structure does Geely have in Thailand?  What happens if you buy a Geely but there is no dealership/service center support in your area?  Ship it to Bangkok for service maybe?   

 

Based on the below Bangkok Post 4 Dec 2024 it seems Geely is just now dipping its toes into Thailand.

 

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/pr/2914017/thonburi-and-geely-launch-first-right-hand-drive-ex5#:~:text=This collaboration%2C managed by Thonburi,to enhance their driving experience.”&text=The GEELY EX5%2C the first,needs of discerning Thai consumers.

 

Edit: And below is the Thonburi Neustern Co., website as this company is mentioned in the Bangkok Post article as the Thailand distributor of Geely EVs in Thailand.  The website really don't provide much info....didn't see anything about dealership/service locations....but maybe I just didn't see it.

 

https://geely.thonburi.com/en

 

 

[motdaeng]

1 hour ago, Alotoftravel said:

Dealer told me that they might have a premium to test drive next month but of course I will miss out on the dec 10 promo deadline. Anyone tested the premium and  give me your thoughts . Thanks for your inputs. ...

 

according to my byd seller, the deposit of 10k for the sl7 is full refunded if you change your mind ...

why not order the sl7 premium before dec 10, and to get a test drive as soon as available ...

[Pib]

I would go by whatever it says on the deposit paperwork....the document signed.   

 

See below regarding the deposit experience at the ongoing Motor Expo 2024 where a guy put a deposit down on a different brand....the Mini Cooper brand....then changed his mind.     Now BYD's policy may be much more forgiving...I don't know.  

 

 

 

[vinny41]

3 hours ago, carlyai said:

Thanks. So the Sealion 7 they are selling in Thailand can't be upgraded to the new platform?

It's a hardware update, not a software update?

What is the km range with the new platform and when would updated vehicles probably make it to Thailand?

 

This article explains the differences between current platform sold in Thailand and the evo 3

it does compare a car sold in Thailand with evo 3 sold in Norway

as there is a mismatch between range figures in Thailand using NEDC vs WLTP range figures in Norway my understanding is if you divide the NEDC figures by 1.27 that will give you the WLTP equilvent

https://www.car250.com/new-e-platform-3-0-evo.html

How to convert NEDC values to WLTP

https://www.autospinn.com/2022/09/car-ev-how-to-convert-nedc-cltc-epa-to-wltp-91190

[carlyai]

I don't suppose there is a downloadable workshop manual for the Sealion 7.0?

[Pib]

4 minutes ago, carlyai said:

I don't suppose there is a downloadable workshop manual for the Sealion 7.0?

Good luck on finding "any maintenance/shop" manual on EVs.   All I've ever seen is the owners manual.

[BKKBike09]

16 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Roojai will be half that price, if not more.

 

If I take a THB 5000 excess then Roojai is quoting THB 19,000 BUT with an insured value of THB 850,000. Without the excess it would be around THB 25000.

 

On paper it's a no-brainer but I don't know anyone who's ever made a claim with Roojai. All insurance is easy to buy; it's not till you have to claim that you find out what they're really like. I looked at their financials for past 5 years and they've lost money every year (last year being the worst: THB 220 million plus loss on revenues of THB 280 million, revenues being down almost 50% over 2022). 

[KhunLA]

11 minutes ago, BKKBike09 said:

 

If I take a THB 5000 excess then Roojai is quoting THB 19,000 BUT with an insured value of THB 850,000. Without the excess it would be around THB 25000.

 

On paper it's a no-brainer but I don't know anyone who's ever made a claim with Roojai. All insurance is easy to buy; it's not till you have to claim that you find out what they're really like. I looked at their financials for past 5 years and they've lost money every year (last year being the worst: THB 220 million plus loss on revenues of THB 280 million, revenues being down almost 50% over 2022). 

 

Really ... our 2022 MG ZS is 14k baht, and renewed a couple months ago.

[JBChiangRai]

13 hours ago, Alotoftravel said:

 

Yes, I was also looking at Geely too. good comparable to bad  Otto 3 extended ( my 2nd choice after Sealion 7 premium) .   My personal issues were that there was no Geely dealer in chiang mai and if I order a car,  it will be registered and delivered from BKK.

 

So I have to wait for them to setup shop in CNX. 

 

 

Geely are one of China's biggest Auto manufacturers, I am sure they will open in Chiang Mai within 12 months so I wouldn't let that put me off.  I think they own Volvo too and make their cars for them in China.

 

Regarding Sealion 7 and future improvements.  I would suggest you ignore future improvements, this is probably 3 years away.  By the time we get 3.0 EVO there will be something else 3 years away, and this will go on for decades.  Buy what is available here and now unless you're sure something is coming within a timeframe of under a year.

[mistral53]

19 minutes ago, JBChiangRai said:

 

Geely are one of China's biggest Auto manufacturers, I am sure they will open in Chiang Mai within 12 months so I wouldn't let that put me off.  I think they own Volvo too and make their cars for them in China.

 

Regarding Sealion 7 and future improvements.  I would suggest you ignore future improvements, this is probably 3 years away.  By the time we get 3.0 EVO there will be something else 3 years away, and this will go on for decades.  Buy what is available here and now unless you're sure something is coming within a timeframe of under a year.

 

We all can speculate about the EVO platform  making it to Thailand - my take is, prices will go up in two steps: First the Dec 10 discount will disappear, then a few months later the EVO will be introduced and the price hike will be justified by the new platform.

 

Of course it can also go the other way, BYD has such brilliant and inscrutable marketing, they could very well claim the EVO platform is cheaper to produce (new blade battery and 12 in 1 controllers could very well be) - and lower prices again.

 

In conclusion - since nothing in China takes 3 years to develop, I fully expect the EVO to arrive in less than 6 months.

[carlyai]

With the Sealion 7 purchase package they include film.

When we bought the CRV new it also included film, so I said what most people get, which was way too dark for me and had to be changed. I can't remember the %.

What do most Westerners advise for the car windows/windscreen film %?

If they include film for the sun roof, what should that % be?

(My shagging in cars days are over so I don't care if people can see in and I'd like to be able to see out day or night).

[Andrew Dwyer]

14 minutes ago, carlyai said:

With the Sealion 7 purchase package they include film.

When we bought the CRV new it also included film, so I said what most people get, which was way too dark for me and had to be changed. I can't remember the %.

What do most Westerners advise for the car windows/windscreen film %?

If they include film for the sun roof, what should that % be?

(My shagging in cars days are over so I don't care if people can see in and I'd like to be able to see out day or night).

My norm is 60% all round and 40% at the front, as the Seal glass roof has no fixed sunshade I chose 80% for the roof.

[JBChiangRai]

42 minutes ago, carlyai said:

With the Sealion 7 purchase package they include film.

When we bought the CRV new it also included film, so I said what most people get, which was way too dark for me and had to be changed. I can't remember the %.

What do most Westerners advise for the car windows/windscreen film %?

If they include film for the sun roof, what should that % be?

(My shagging in cars days are over so I don't care if people can see in and I'd like to be able to see out day or night).

 

I chose 40% cut (60% transmission) front, sides and back.  Nothing for the roof, it's already specially treated and I don

t find it hot.

[Pib]

November 2024 EV "registrations."   BYD Dolphin is the runaway leader.

 

 See the car250.com weblink for more details such as breakout by brand and models.

 

https://www.car250.com/byd-dolphine-bev-11.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Andrew Dwyer]

Surprised to see zero Sealion 7’s in that breakdown  !

[Pib]

20 minutes ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

Surprised to see zero Sealion 7’s in that breakdown  !

The Sealion 7 has only be on sale for a very short time in Thailand....not enough time to complete the "registration" process.

[Alotoftravel]

21 minutes ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

urprised to see zero Sealion 7’s in that breakdown  

Sealion 7 pricing was introduced Nov 28. 

[Pib]

Today I dropped by a BYD Dealership to charge-up with some free electrons.  While my Atto was sucking in those free electrons I went into the dealership showroom to part-take of free snacks, look at the varies models, etc.,  The showroom had  1 Sealion, 1 Seal, 1 Atto, 2 Dolphins, and 2 M6 on display.   

 

The Sealion and Seal were side-by-side and the Sealion looked like a significantly larger car than the Seal.  Now that was more of a visual illusion since the Seal is not really that much smaller per specs.  

 

For about 30 minutes I watched customers and it was obvious the Sealion was getting the most attention by the customers.  And two sets of customers were at sales tables with sales people doing serious talk/paperwork in buying a Sealion.  Yeap, for right now the Sealion is the new girl in the club and getting a lot of attention....I'm sure the Sealion is going to have good sales/registrations over the coming months.

 

 

[carlyai]

5 hours ago, Pib said:

Today I dropped by a BYD Dealership to charge-up with some free electrons.  While my Atto was sucking in those free electrons I went into the dealership showroom to part-take of free snacks, look at the varies models, etc.,  The showroom had  1 Sealion, 1 Seal, 1 Atto, 2 Dolphins, and 2 M6 on display.   

 

The Sealion and Seal were side-by-side and the Sealion looked like a significantly larger car than the Seal.  Now that was more of a visual illusion since the Seal is not really that much smaller per specs.  

 

For about 30 minutes I watched customers and it was obvious the Sealion was getting the most attention by the customers.  And two sets of customers were at sales tables with sales people doing serious talk/paperwork in buying a Sealion.  Yeap, for right now the Sealion is the new girl in the club and getting a lot of attention....I'm sure the Sealion is going to have good sales/registrations over the coming months.

 

It looks like we have bought one too. 🙂

Were going to the dealer today to put down the B10000 deposit, but now they want our trade-in CRV today as well. That will leave us without a car until we get the new Sealion by the end of the month.

I read about Roadside Assistance and thought it extended to 80km from the dealership (which just gets us in the area of assistance) but the salesperson said 10km, so will have to check that today.

Getting excited.

 

 

[HighPriority]

5 hours ago, carlyai said:

 

Mate, you know the car won’t turn up on the right day, don’t you ?

Or there will be a minor defect or delay of some sort…

Without a loaner car, no chance of me using shanks pony until my new car arrives. 
 

For the rest of us at least we can have some forum reading over Xmas, coming soon to AN:

“I was promised my new car but it didn’t arrive 😢”

 

I hope you get your car mate.

[carlyai]

2 hours ago, HighPriority said:

Mate, you know the car won’t turn up on the right day, don’t you ?

Or there will be a minor defect or delay of some sort…

Without a loaner car, no chance of me using shanks pony until my new car arrives. 
 

For the rest of us at least we can have some forum reading over Xmas, coming soon to AN:

“I was promised my new car but it didn’t arrive 😢”

 

I hope you get your car mate.

The plan was to order the new car, drive the CRV to Pattaya and Bangkok finalising the house sale, return to Mukdahan give them the CRV and take the new car.

So that was the FALANG agreed to plan.

Seems like the dealer must have a buyer for our car as he wants it now and been organised by the THAI connection.

Anyway gets the CRV sorted and have to get the e-bikes out. 🙂

[Andrew Dwyer]

On 12/7/2024 at 7:56 PM, Alotoftravel said:

 

Yes, I was also looking at Geely too. good comparable to bad  Otto 3 extended ( my 2nd choice after Sealion 7 premium) .   My personal issues were that there was no Geely dealer in chiang mai and if I order a car,  it will be registered and delivered from BKK.

 

So I have to wait for them to setup shop in CNX. 

 

A  tempting discounted price but only for first 1,084 ordered.

 

 

The usual EV freebies.

 

 

 

Seems like Geely are running a little late .

Geely Ayutthaya is just a sign on a gate currently but as it was a previous showroom ( Kia ) wouldn’t take much to get it up and running ……. still a long way from CM though !

[Pib]

4 minutes ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

A  tempting discounted price but only for first 1,084 ordered.

 

That 1,084 is probably a high number Geely pulled from its backside hole or Geely's  entire available stock to Thailand.   

[Pib]

Regarding "free wall chargers with installation" which use to be pretty much a standard "BYD" freebie (with the usual exception of the Dolphin model)  when I look at the current Dec 2024 BYD promotions they only offer a free wall charger with installation for BYD models Sealion 6 DM-I (BYD's PHEV model) and the Dolphin Extended (but not the Dolphin Standard).   All other models like the Atto, Seal, Sealion 7, and M6 do not get the freebie wall charger.  

 

Current BYD Promotions

https://www.reverautomotive.com/en/news/mte2024-campaign

 

Appears free wall charger with installation is slowly falling to the wayside as the price-cutting continues....helps to maintain profit by offering one less freebie which is typically valued around Bt25K. 

 

Plus, EV chargers can now be easy bought online like at Lazada and Shopee at pretty low prices.  And many are the type of EV chargers where a person can set its max amperage draw only 8A to 16A which allows the charger to usually work on a standard 16A home wall socket  vs possibly having to install additional 40A amperage wire, circuit breaker, meter, etc., for a 32A/7KW wall charger.  This also means the only installation cost for a 16A or less wall charger might just the cost of the nail to hang the charger on the wall next to a 220V/16A outlet.   

 

[Andrew Dwyer]

Special expat price 🙃

( running currently on FB ).

 

[KhunLA]

MG has a new model on the website, 1st ever is a bit of a stretch ... obviously feeling the heat from BYD Seal

 

[Andrew Dwyer]

6 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

MG has a new model on the website, 1st ever is a bit of a stretch ... obviously feeling the heat from BYD Seal

 

Looks interesting, 20 speakers, 4 wheel turn and 0-100 3.48 secs !!