2025 was the best year yet for BEVs registrations....see below weblink for full story....some partial quotes from story also below.

https://autolifethailand.tv/ev-bev-register-thailand-overall-2025/

https://autolifethailand.tv/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/EV_BEV_Register_2025_overall-table-scaled.jpg

Just looking at those models registering at least "1,000" units for 2025 and 2024....many more models breaking 1,000 in 2025 than in 2024. And some models first going on sale late in 2025 didn't require 12 months to reach 1,000 registrations (like the Jaecoo5 and some others). And what about the mighty BYD Dolphin...the clear winner for both years.

For 2024

And in Autolife's charts above there are errors where they list Neta models for the 2025 year like listing the Neta V with 2421 registrations when in fact there was only 37 Neta V registrations. Only a scan few Neta V's have been sold registered since Feb 2025. What Autolife did was add the VII and V numbers together and then mislabeled that total as Neta V when in fact almost all were actually Neta VII. Below are the actual numbers for the Neta X, VII, and V in 2025 from DLT public stats.

@Andrew Dwyer

The devil is testing me right now....there is a green Zeekr 7X AWD with red tags parked across the soi from me right now...here at my home. Someone visiting a neighbor. I'm being tested....I shall resist the temptation to run and buy one...the devil will not win!!!😄

26 minutes ago, Pib said:

Just looking at those models registering at least "1,000" units for 2025 and 2024....many more models breaking 1,000 in 2025 than in 2024. And some models first going on sale late in 2025 didn't require 12 months to reach 1,000 registrations (like the Jaecoo5 and some others). And what about the mighty BYD Dolphin...the clear winner for both years.

For 2024

Thanks @Pib , I like these multiple charts as they give a wider picture of the trends.

Dolphin, Atto 3 and MG 4 being the biggest successes of the EV invasion, Sealion 7 pushing his way in .

Be interesting to see where Jaecoo 5 is this time next year, certainly top 5, could it topple BYD/MG ?

BYD Seal coming back at the end of the year despite being rarer than hen’s teeth in the middle months, proving they can get a batch of cars if the demand is high enough.

Poor old Neta X getting closed down, with the threat of bankruptcy, just as he was taking off.

Ora Good Cat having an exceptional 2025 just when I was thinking it was getting old, price reduction ??

11 minutes ago, Pib said:

@Andrew Dwyer

The devil is testing me right now....there is a green Zeekr 7X AWD with red tags parked across the soi from me right now...here at my home. Someone visiting a neighbor. I'm being tested....I shall resist the temptation to run and buy one...the devil will not win!!!😄

Yes, the temptation is great, that green is sublime and must surely be the best selling colour, but, although the more YouTube videos I watch about Zeekr 7X the more i think the automatic doors would become annoying rather than helpful.

As i have said before the excessive use of electrically operated gimmicks is too much imo, glove box, charging port door and now i noticed that laying down the rear seats is also electrically powered, how often are we lowering the rear seats to warrant electrifying them I ask myself.

Some of these might not be as standard on the LR RWD 7X here in Thailand but the price is too high for me anyway.

Like when I contemplated changing from Apple to Android recently i finally decided i am too old to learn something completely new and if i do change the Seal, maybe in a couple of years, i would be quite happy to go with the Sealion 7 for familiarity …… unless anything really tempting comes along ……. damn you temptation !!

21 minutes ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

Yes, the temptation is great, that green is sublime and must surely be the best selling colour, but, although the more YouTube videos I watch about Zeekr 7X the more i think the automatic doors would become annoying rather than helpful.

As i have said before the excessive use of electrically operated gimmicks is too much imo, glove box, charging port door and now i noticed that laying down the rear seats is also electrically powered, how often are we lowering the rear seats to warrant electrifying them I ask myself.

Some of these might not be as standard on the LR RWD 7X here in Thailand but the price is too high for me anyway.

Like when I contemplated changing from Apple to Android recently i finally decided i am too old to learn something completely new and if i do change the Seal, maybe in a couple of years, i would be quite happy to go with the Sealion 7 for familiarity …… unless anything really tempting comes along ……. damn you temptation !!

I agree the automatic doors could be annoying.....they were to me when I played with them during the Motor Expo 2025 as I went to the Expo on three different days and each day I played with all three Zeekr 7X models, the Standard RWD (Bt1.4M) , Long Range RWD (Bt1.6M), and AWD (Bt1.8M). And their pricing remains the same in 2026. Here in Thailand it's only the AWD model that comes with the auto doors. The 7X Long Range was my favorite of the three models at Bt1.6M although it had some stuff I really didn't need or want.

What the devil don't know is I've watched enough Youtube videos combined with a ton of googling (i.e., research) on the Zeekr 7X that I've been able to "lock-up" my desire to get a 7X model (or any EV) probably until the end of this year. A couple of big things about Zeekr is they don't offer a lifetime battery warranty and the 7X Long Range only comes with a 100KWH NMC battery (ditto for the AWD model). If Zeekr offered a lifetime battery warranty I wouldn't mind at all having a NMC battery. Now, the 7X Standard has a 75KWH LFP battery but I want my next EV to have approximately a 100KWH battery (preferably LFP).

Also, Zeekr marketing and sales pretty much mirrors Benz, Volvo, BMW type marketing/sales which has that "HiSo, we be a premium brand" attitude "and pricing" in everything they offer. But the Zeekr models sure have very nice / premium interiors. I prefer a more down-to-earth, common-man marketing/sales/support approach.

Plus, probably late 2026 the upgraded 7X models will probably arrive Thailand with upgraded battery system (i.e., 900V vs 800V charging), slightly bigger batteries, and more HiSo options most likely at the same price as current models. So, the Zeekr 7X will definitely stay on my radar screen....I'll continue to watch it for now vs buying one. I seriously, seriously doubt Zeekr will offer any big price reduction/promotion during the year as their marketing/sales strategy don't seem to play that game.

By the way, a few days ago I had my 60,000km checkup for my 2023 BYD Atto Extended Range...been driving it for 2 yrs, 3 months. And I just got approval for the Lifetime Battery/Motors/Drive Electronics Warranty. During that checkup where I was at the dealership service area for about an hour and half I did not see even one person visit "sales" area....just zero customers coming in to touch/feel/smell/talk about buying a new BYD. In my numerous visits to various BYD dealerships over the past 2 years plus I had never seen a "sales" area with no customers....there was always some customers checking out cars....but hey, Jan and Feb have typically been slow months for sales.

Yeap, I won't let the devil whisper in my ear until around the end of the year unless maybe he conjures up a new EV deal I simply can't refuse. 😃👹

1 hour ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

....and if i do change the Seal, maybe in a couple of years, i would be quite happy to go with the Sealion 7 for familiarity …… unless anything really tempting comes along ……. damn you temptation !!

Yeap....now that I'm familiar with and generally happy with BYD since I've drove an Atto for over 2 years already, I'm also keeping a radar track on the Sealion 7. But I will not be "highly" interested until the Sealion 7 "800V platform" (hopefully with blade battery "version 2") arrives Thailand (maybe late this year)....right now the Thailand version is a 400V platform. And hopefully the BYD Lifetime Battery Warranty will continue to be offered; if not offered, then that places BYD back into the same category of other brands who do not offer a lifetime warranty.

@Pib

I really have to stop watching Zeekr videos, in particular this one, Zeekr 7GT, has me salivating.

11 hours ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

@Pib

I really have to stop watching Zeekr videos, in particular this one, Zeekr 7GT, has me salivating.

Yea, I ran across that 7GT video in my ongoing research (i.e.., googling). A really nice car BUT since it's an "estate" style car or what some folks call a wagon or even station wagon it's not my style as I'm more of a SUV style guy. And look at how low the 7GT is....I'm not sure it would survive a lot of roads in Thailand (heck, a cat would have a hard time crawling under the 7GT)....but in areas of world were estate-style cars are popular (like Europe) I expect it will sell well. Folks who prefer saloon/sedan style cars will surely like this estate style car.

Below is another video on the 7GT....yeap, a really nice estate car. And even this person is having an issue with the automatic doors.

5 hours ago, Pib said:

A really nice car BUT since it's an "estate" style car or what some folks call a wagon or even station wagon it's not my style as I'm more of a SUV style guy.

And I'm exactly waiting for the Zeekr 7 or Zeekr 1 to be coming to Thailand. Because I don't like SUVs

For those of you interested in EV battery technology you may have heard that CATL (largest battery manufacturer in the world) has just released the 3rd generation of its "sodium-ion" battery which basically matches the energy density of LFP batteries, is cheaper to manufacturer since no lithium is needed...just abundant sodium, retains 90% of its capacity even at a -40C degrees, is fast charging even at very low temperatures, has a 10,000 or more charging cycles life span compared to about half of that for LFP batteries and even less for NMC batteries, etc.

Been a lot of buzz regarding CATL's very recent sodium-ion battery announcement with it going into full scale manufacturing and deployment in 2026. The GAC Aion EV will come with a sodium-ion battery starting mid 2026 along with other light commercial EVs.

Take a look at below article at the weblink provided....I included a few partial quotes also. And don't compare what you may have heard/read about sodium-ion batteries if what you heard/read is much more than a few months old....battery technology is changing fast.

https://discoveryalert.com.au/catl-sodium-ion-battery-2026-electric-vehicles/

How CATL Sodium-Ion Battery Chemistry Works in Electric Vehicles

Battery chemistry fundamentals determine how energy storage systems deliver power to electric vehicles. CATL sodium-ion batteries in cars operate through electrochemical processes where sodium ions migrate between cathode and anode materials during charging and discharging cycles. Unlike traditional lithium-based systems, sodium-ion batteries utilise abundant sodium resources combined with hard carbon anodes and layered oxide cathodes to create electrical potential differences.

The cell architecture in CATL sodium-ion batteries achieves 175 Wh/kg energy density, matching lithium iron phosphate performance levels whilst maintaining operational capability at extreme temperatures. Temperature tolerance specifications demonstrate functionality at -30°C for charging operations and 90% capacity retention at -40°C, representing significant advantages over conventional battery systems that require thermal management complexity....

3 minutes ago, Pib said:

For those of you interested in EV battery technology you may have heard that CATL (largest battery manufacturer in the world) has just released the 3rd generation of its "sodium-ion" battery which basically matches the energy density of LFP batteries, is cheaper to manufacturer since no lithium is needed...just abundant sodium, retains 90% of its capacity even at a -40C degrees, is fast charging even at very low temperatures, has a 10,000 or more charging cycles life span compared to about half of that for LFP batteries and even less for NMC batteries, etc.

Been a lot of buzz regarding CATL's very recent sodium-ion battery announcement with it going into full scale manufacturing and deployment in 2026. The GAC Aion EV will come with a sodium-ion battery starting mid 2026 along with other light commercial EVs.

Take a look at below article at the weblink provided....I included a few partial quotes also. And don't compare what you may have heard/read about sodium-ion batteries if what you heard/read is much more than a few months old....battery technology is changing fast.

https://discoveryalert.com.au/catl-sodium-ion-battery-2026-electric-vehicles/

How CATL Sodium-Ion Battery Chemistry Works in Electric Vehicles

Battery chemistry fundamentals determine how energy storage systems deliver power to electric vehicles. CATL sodium-ion batteries in cars operate through electrochemical processes where sodium ions migrate between cathode and anode materials during charging and discharging cycles. Unlike traditional lithium-based systems, sodium-ion batteries utilise abundant sodium resources combined with hard carbon anodes and layered oxide cathodes to create electrical potential differences.

The cell architecture in CATL sodium-ion batteries achieves 175 Wh/kg energy density, matching lithium iron phosphate performance levels whilst maintaining operational capability at extreme temperatures. Temperature tolerance specifications demonstrate functionality at -30°C for charging operations and 90% capacity retention at -40°C, representing significant advantages over conventional battery systems that require thermal management complexity....

Our car will be obsolete soon, the industry is moving so fast. Thankfully, will always meet our needs, as we can't make it much pass 3 hr or 250 kms before one of us needs to eat or P.

I guess at the 20 year mark the wife will have a 'classic'. Look kids, one of the first LFP battery cars, and it's still going ... hopefully.

31 minutes ago, Pib said:

For those of you interested in EV battery technology you may have heard that CATL (largest battery manufacturer in the world) has just released the 3rd generation of its "sodium-ion" battery which basically matches the energy density of LFP batteries, is cheaper to manufacturer since no lithium is needed...just abundant sodium, retains 90% of its capacity even at a -40C degrees, is fast charging even at very low temperatures, has a 10,000 or more charging cycles life span compared to about half of that for LFP batteries and even less for NMC batteries, etc.

Been a lot of buzz regarding CATL's very recent sodium-ion battery announcement with it going into full scale manufacturing and deployment in 2026. The GAC Aion EV will come with a sodium-ion battery starting mid 2026 along with other light commercial EVs.

Take a look at below article at the weblink provided....I included a few partial quotes also. And don't compare what you may have heard/read about sodium-ion batteries if what you heard/read is much more than a few months old....battery technology is changing fast.

https://discoveryalert.com.au/catl-sodium-ion-battery-2026-electric-vehicles/

How CATL Sodium-Ion Battery Chemistry Works in Electric Vehicles

Battery chemistry fundamentals determine how energy storage systems deliver power to electric vehicles. CATL sodium-ion batteries in cars operate through electrochemical processes where sodium ions migrate between cathode and anode materials during charging and discharging cycles. Unlike traditional lithium-based systems, sodium-ion batteries utilise abundant sodium resources combined with hard carbon anodes and layered oxide cathodes to create electrical potential differences.

The cell architecture in CATL sodium-ion batteries achieves 175 Wh/kg energy density, matching lithium iron phosphate performance levels whilst maintaining operational capability at extreme temperatures. Temperature tolerance specifications demonstrate functionality at -30°C for charging operations and 90% capacity retention at -40°C, representing significant advantages over conventional battery systems that require thermal management complexity....

Does Catl have a production plant in Thailand as the rules for EV batteries in Thailand change this year from June onwards

By June 2026, Thailand's EV policy mandates a shift toward local battery production, limiting the value of imported battery cells to 10% of an EV's factory price to meet local content requirements. This deadline, extended from the end of 2025, requires manufacturers to adopt local sourcing, fostering a robust domestic supply chain, which includes 54 active battery production projects as of late 2025. 

Key EV Battery & Policy Updates for June 2026

• Imported Cell Limits: Starting January 1, 2026, and lasting through June 30, 2026, imported battery cells can only account for up to 10% of an EV's total factory price to be counted toward local content requirements.

• Localization Push: Post-June 30, 2026, imported battery cells will no longer count towards the 40% Local Content Requirement (LCR), forcing manufacturers to use locally produced battery packs.

• Investment & Manufacturing: Over 140 billion baht has been invested in the Thai EV industry (as of late 2025), with 54 battery-production projects worth 79.47 billion baht strengthening the local supply chain.

• EV 3.5 Measures: The BOI's 4-year (2024–2027) EV 3.5 package supports this transition with subsidies and incentives.

• Market Growth: BEV registrations in Thailand are growing, with over 87,000 units registered in the first nine months of 2025. 

Industry Impact
The policy changes are designed to shift from importing components to strengthening domestic battery manufacturing, aligning with Thailand's goal of becoming a regional EV hub. Manufacturers must have clear domestic sourcing plans, and those failing to meet these local production conditions may face penalties.

For me the Sodium ion battery is inherently safer than even LFP batteries. Not prone to thermal runaway and if there is a fire in case of a collision then they are much easier to extinguish.

The fire aspect is especially important for home solar installations.

Just to add yes we do own lfp vehicles at the moment .

Looking forward to Na ion becoming common. Of course there will probably be a future technology that will be even better.

It's called progress.

1 hour ago, vinny41 said:

Does Catl have a production plant in Thailand as the rules for EV batteries in Thailand change this year from June onwards

By June 2026, Thailand's EV policy mandates a shift toward local battery production, limiting the value of imported battery cells to 10% of an EV's factory price to meet local content requirements. This deadline, extended from the end of 2025, requires manufacturers to adopt local sourcing, fostering a robust domestic supply chain, which includes 54 active battery production projects as of late 2025. 

Key EV Battery & Policy Updates for June 2026

• Imported Cell Limits: Starting January 1, 2026, and lasting through June 30, 2026, imported battery cells can only account for up to 10% of an EV's total factory price to be counted toward local content requirements.

• Localization Push: Post-June 30, 2026, imported battery cells will no longer count towards the 40% Local Content Requirement (LCR), forcing manufacturers to use locally produced battery packs.

• Investment & Manufacturing: Over 140 billion baht has been invested in the Thai EV industry (as of late 2025), with 54 battery-production projects worth 79.47 billion baht strengthening the local supply chain.

• EV 3.5 Measures: The BOI's 4-year (2024–2027) EV 3.5 package supports this transition with subsidies and incentives.

• Market Growth: BEV registrations in Thailand are growing, with over 87,000 units registered in the first nine months of 2025. 

Industry Impact
The policy changes are designed to shift from importing components to strengthening domestic battery manufacturing, aligning with Thailand's goal of becoming a regional EV hub. Manufacturers must have clear domestic sourcing plans, and those failing to meet these local production conditions may face penalties.

A couple of years ago CATL in partnership with PTT Arun Plus announced the construction of a battery factory in Chonburi.

Also, keep in mind the EV3.5 requirement to limit the quantity of imported batteries in counting towards EV3.5 subsidiaries/tax advantages does not mean a company can't sell an EV in Thailand unless it has batteries in it that were made in Thailand....it just means it may miss out on some tax advantages/subsidiaries if the company signed up for EV3.5 and/or can't make up the difference with other domestically made products that make up an EV.

https://arunplus.com/

Broken down by energy type, 100% electric vehicles (BEVs) accounted for 120,301 units sold, representing 19% of the total market ; plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) sold 8,621 units, or 1.3% of the total market ; hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) sold 146,059 units, or 23% of the total market; and internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEs) sold 128,893 units, or 20% of the total market.

https://autolifethailand.tv/fti-report-production-industries-thailand-2025/

Sodium-ion batteries will not replace car batteries anytime soon according to some. CATL doesn't make a use case for cars ATM. This is apparently because their watt hours by volume is too high for cars. Most people have come to use the KWH/KG measurement and it's all very useful when everybody measures the same thing.

As far as I can tell, sodium-ion batteries require about double the volume as an NMC or LFP battery. That is, it needs to be twice as tall.

23 minutes ago, Tramboy said:

Sodium-ion batteries will not replace car batteries anytime soon according to some. CATL doesn't make a use case for cars ATM. This is apparently because their watt hours by volume is too high for cars. Most people have come to use the KWH/KG measurement and it's all very useful when everybody measures the same thing.

As far as I can tell, sodium-ion batteries require about double the volume as an NMC or LFP battery. That is, it needs to be twice as tall.

Very true for earlier generations of sodium ion batteries, but they have been getting better and smaller over the last couple years.....apparently CATL has made some major advances in increasing energy density of sodium ion batteries which is putting them almost on pair size-wise with LFP batteries.

https://discoveryalert.com.au/catl-sodium-ion-battery-2026-electric-vehicles/

Vehicle Application Segmentation Strategy

CATL's deployment timeline positions Q2 2026 for passenger vehicle integration with GAC Aion providing the first production model featuring sodium-ion battery technology. This timeline represents aggressive acceleration from commercial vehicle applications to consumer market segments, indicating confidence in manufacturing scalability and performance validation.

Commercial vehicle applications lead deployment strategy through July 2026 mass production of Tectrans II series batteries for light commercial vehicles. The 45-kWh battery pack specification addresses urban delivery and short-haul transportation requirements where cold-weather reliability and total cost of ownership provide competitive advantages over lithium-ion alternatives.

Market Segmentation Analysis

Light Commercial Vehicles:

• Delivery van applications requiring cold-weather operational capability

• Urban freight operations with daily charging cycles

• Fleet applications prioritising reduced thermal management complexity

• Municipal vehicle operations in northern climate regions

Passenger Vehicle Integration:

• Entry-level EV segments targeting cost-conscious consumers

• Urban mobility solutions with moderate range requirements

• Replacement market opportunities for aging lithium-ion systems

• Alternative positioning to premium battery technologies

Fleet Operation Benefits:

• Taxi services requiring extended cycle life performance

• Ride-sharing platforms emphasising total cost of ownership

• Commercial fleet operations with predictable duty cycles

• Public transportation systems prioritising safety and reliability

********************

AI Overview

Sodium-ion (Na-ion) batteries are generally

physically larger and heavier than Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries for the same amount of energy capacity. Because sodium ions are larger (1.06 Å) than lithium ions (0.76 Å), they require more space and, consequently, Na-ion technology typically offers a lower volumetric energy density. 

Here is a detailed breakdown of the physical size differences:

1. Energy Density & Volumetric Size

• LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate): Offers higher energy density (approx. 160–200 Wh/kg), meaning more power fits into a smaller, lighter box.

• Sodium-Ion: Generally lower energy density (approx. 100–160 Wh/kg). To achieve the same 10kWh capacity as an LFP battery, a Na-ion pack needs to be physically larger.

• Verdict: To deliver the same energy, Sodium-ion batteries require roughly 10% to 30% more space. 

2. Cell Level Physical Size

While many Sodium-ion manufacturers use standard lithium-ion form factors (like cylindrical 18650 or 21700 cells) to make adoption easier, they do not pack the same energy into that space. 

• 18650 Cell: A Na-ion 18650 cell (18mm x 65mm) will have a lower capacity (mAh) compared to an LFP 18650 cell.

• Prismatic/Pouch Cells: A Na-ion cell may be physically larger to compensate for the lower density to match the capacity of an LFP pouch. 

3. Application Implications

• Space-Constrained (EVs, Smartphones): LFP is preferred because it is more compact and lighter.

• Stationary/Grid Storage: Na-ion is suitable because, despite needing more space, the lower cost and higher safety outweigh the physical size disadvantage. 

While Sodium-ion is often reported as larger, technology is advancing quickly, with some next-gen sodium cells aiming to match the energy density of current LFP (approx. 200 Wh/kg). 

On 1/27/2026 at 6:01 PM, Pib said:

@Andrew Dwyer

The devil is testing me right now....there is a green Zeekr 7X AWD with red tags parked across the soi from me right now...here at my home. Someone visiting a neighbor. I'm being tested....I shall resist the temptation to run and buy one...the devil will not win!!!😄

You should wait until the updated model comes to Thailand

4 minutes ago, JAS21 said:

You should wait until the updated model comes to Thailand

That's for sure like I posted earlier.

While I'm really impressed with a lot of things regarding Zeekr there are also things that do not impress me like their marketing strategy (i.e., based on a HiSo "face thing" image), vehicle/battery warranty that is just average compared to others like BYD/MG lifetime warranties (although the BYD warranty is still a limited-time promotion vs standard long term like MG), Zeekr larger/100KWH batteries being NMC vs LFP chemistry, and Zeekr currently having a small (but expanding) dealership presence in Thailand. Although for me there is plenty of presence here in the Bangkok area already like a new, large dealership just 10 minutes away in Bangkok traffic from my home.

A person would think those major drawbacks would be enough to scare off most everyone, but I realize many people are not too concerned about such things for various reasons like if always getting a new car long before the basic warranty expires. But I hope Zeekr might offer an extended/lifetime vehicle/battery warranty which they have done as promotions in some countries at certain times. If they offered a longer battery warranty that would make a big difference in my mind especially with plenty of dealership support/close by to me. Closeness of dealership support is important because even brand new, supposedly very reliable vehicles have issues.

Yeap, keeping Zeekr on my radar screen...and will even give the Zeekr 7GT estate car consideration if it comes to Thailand which I feel it will probably will in late 2026/early 2027. Maybe the 7GT will be a higher setting car than what current pictures show. I'm more of a SUV-style person than a lower riding estate/sedan/saloon style person so I will probably continue to strongly lean towards the 7X SUV. Come on Zeekr!!!!....give a longer battery warranty....you are still on my radar....it will take more than a premium interior and whiz-bang infotainment & audio systems to snag me!!!😁

On 1/29/2026 at 7:43 PM, Tramboy said:

Sodium-ion batteries will not replace car batteries anytime soon according to some. CATL doesn't make a use case for cars ATM. This is apparently because their watt hours by volume is too high for cars. Most people have come to use the KWH/KG measurement and it's all very useful when everybody measures the same thing.

As far as I can tell, sodium-ion batteries require about double the volume as an NMC or LFP battery. That is, it needs to be twice as tall.

What recently has changed is that end of 2025 lithium carbonate prices have gone up to the roof, due to higher ESS demand and that mines have been closed due to the lower prices early 2025 [ Source https://tradingeconomics.com/commodity/lithium ].

I think that's one of the reasons that CATL is betting on sodium ion for ESS and city mileage EVs. Yes energy density is still an issue, but CATL will soon come with a hybrid LFP/sodium ion cells package to overcome this, until in gen 3/4 they think sodium ion's density will be on par with LFP. Besides the advantages that are being advertised like almost no loss in range in cold temps and better chemical stability will win over LFP in the gen 1 use cases.

One advantage that is not advertised so well is the higher operating temps of sodium ion (+70C) vs LFP (+60C) and it also has an excellent high-rate discharge [https://carnewschina.com/2026/01/30/catls-sodium-ion-batteries-officially-enter-passenger-vehicles-report-says/: "at 5C charging, the cells increased 5C degrees in temp"].

This means that contrary to LFP, sodium ion can do with less sophisticated cooling than LFP and also less thermal runaway protection measures [https://www.catl.com/en/news/6401.html " the Naxtra Battery eliminates combustion-supporting factors at the material level, thus achieving a transformative breakthrough from "passive defense" to "intrinsic safety"]. Also higher operating temps means less prone to internal resistance degradation due to higher temps like fast driving/charging.

Has the Tesla Model 3 Standard been discussed?

It was recently released for 1,149,000 THB and judging by my girlfriend's reaction, Tesla is a highly regarded brand in Thailand.

The Standard has only a single wheel choice, deletes the rear screen and upper mood lighting and Tesla's version of hands-free lane centering. As well, the seats are fabric/vegan leather and the side mirrors are only operable via the screen. The sub has also been deleted with a total of 7 speakers and the battery is an LFP good for 534 KM WLTP and charging is restricted to 150KW.

Thoughts?

37 minutes ago, Tramboy said:

Has the Tesla Model 3 Standard been discussed?

It was recently released for 1,149,000 THB and judging by my girlfriend's reaction, Tesla is a highly regarded brand in Thailand.

The Standard has only a single wheel choice, deletes the rear screen and upper mood lighting and Tesla's version of hands-free lane centering. As well, the seats are fabric/vegan leather and the side mirrors are only operable via the screen. The sub has also been deleted with a total of 7 speakers and the battery is an LFP good for 534 KM WLTP and charging is restricted to 150KW.

Thoughts?

Complete waste of money.

I was in Dubai for a week recently and had plenty of these as Ubers. Hard plastics, just not premium, and not a patch on their rivals in terms of quality or value for money.

7 hours ago, josephbloggs said:

Complete waste of money.

I was in Dubai for a week recently and had plenty of these as Ubers. Hard plastics, just not premium, and not a patch on their rivals in terms of quality or value for money.

Here’s a review of the Tesla Standard from Bjorn, ignoring the obvious bias he has for Tesla it is a good overview.

9 hours ago, Tramboy said:

Has the Tesla Model 3 Standard been discussed?

It was recently released for 1,149,000 THB and judging by my girlfriend's reaction, Tesla is a highly regarded brand in Thailand.

The Standard has only a single wheel choice, deletes the rear screen and upper mood lighting and Tesla's version of hands-free lane centering. As well, the seats are fabric/vegan leather and the side mirrors are only operable via the screen. The sub has also been deleted with a total of 7 speakers and the battery is an LFP good for 534 KM WLTP and charging is restricted to 150KW.

Thoughts?

There is a reason BYD are outselling them.

The Seal and Sealion are far superior cars.

So this just popped up on my BYD app.

The expiration date is 2 years and 3 months since I took delivery of my Seal.

Others must have had this already, wondering if they followed up ?

I put it on this thread, instead of the dedicated Seal thread, to attract the Atto 3 and Dolphin owners also, some of whom will have passed the 2 years and 3 months mark already .

So, I will be visiting the dealership to see what my options are, in the meantime anyone else acted on this ??

GWM is closing down the Ora line in Thailand.

On to bigger and better things.

On 2/3/2026 at 9:09 AM, Andrew Dwyer said:

So this just popped up on my BYD app.

The expiration date is 2 years and 3 months since I took delivery of my Seal.

Others must have had this already, wondering if they followed up ?

I put it on this thread, instead of the dedicated Seal thread, to attract the Atto 3 and Dolphin owners also, some of whom will have passed the 2 years and 3 months mark already .

So, I will be visiting the dealership to see what my options are, in the meantime anyone else acted on this ??

So, i visited my dealer re: the SIM card expiration and he told me “ use hotspot , we are waiting for Head Office for information on new SIM and monthly payment charges “.

This is what i remember seeing on the FB Thai Atto 3 group, as early adopters reached the 2 year mark there were many posts re: the SIM expiration and i never saw an outcome, presumably those guys are still waiting ?? @BKKBike09

16 minutes ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

So, i visited my dealer re: the SIM card expiration and he told me “ use hotspot , we are waiting for Head Office for information on new SIM and monthly payment charges “.

This is what i remember seeing on the FB Thai Atto 3 group, as early adopters reached the 2 year mark there were many posts re: the SIM expiration and i never saw an outcome, presumably those guys are still waiting ?? @BKKBike09

I don't have any more info - even this is news to me.

Took our Atto for its 3 year service last month and the dealership said nothing other than suggesting we change the SIM to a Thailand registered one - they said the SIM supplied with the vehicle was Singapore registered.

My view is do nothing unless/until SIM related services I need stop working. I'd assume (maybe naively) that any safety-related OTA updates would be installed regardless.