2 hours 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

Don't hold you breath regarding awaiting for new info from the "Head Office." What the rep told you is just a distraction, a scripted response given over and over to customers.

I remember back in Oct 2023 when I picked up my new Atto as the sales rep was covering various aspects of the paperwork I needed to sign....he stressed my SIM came with 2GB per month data allotment for 2 years. He didn't know what would happen at that 2 year point but said it could be BYD would continue the allotment for lifetime for free OR have a monthly plan you could signup for---he said headquarters is still deciding.

What happened here? front-loading before the price increase as these are presumably 2025 sales?

I bet BYD would love to have this kind of monthly sales every month

Yea....expect the majority are end of 2025 promotions/price cuts that finally cleared the financing "and registration" process.

The coming months will be more telling of the true condition of the market. And of course the 2 week Motor Show 2026 kicks off on 25 March so many potential buyers will probably wait till then.

1 hour ago, Pib said:

Yea....expect the majority are end of 2025 promotions/price cuts that finally cleared the financing "and registration" process.

The coming months will be more telling of the true condition of the market. And of course the 2 week Motor Show 2026 kicks off on 25 March so many potential buyers will probably wait till then.

Ive never been to one of these shows so I think I will give it a go as I want to buy a Jaecoo J5 - anything I should be aware of before I take the plunge?

11 minutes ago, JustAnotherFarang said:

Ive never been to one of these shows so I think I will give it a go as I want to buy a Jaecoo J5 - anything I should be aware of before I take the plunge?

@Peciacake and @Alotoftravel have both bought one. So hopefully they will reply to this or you could message them.

I sat in while @Peciacake did a test drive and I was very impressed with how much car you get for the money. He hasn't reported any problems since his purchase.

12 hours ago, JustAnotherFarang said:

Ive never been to one of these shows so I think I will give it a go as I want to buy a Jaecoo J5 - anything I should be aware of before I take the plunge?

Naw....just go and have fun. If over 60 an entrance ticket is usually free if the same as the Motor Expo 2025....that will save you Bt100. You get the free ticket by going to the VIP window which is close to the regular ticket windows....just show some ID with your age. I went tot the Motor Expo 2025 on three different days....got a free ticket each time. Ditto if taking along a kid of certain young age...I forget what the age was.....just look at the website a few weeks before the show to see about free entrance.

And whatever promotion/price-cuts apply across Thailand....at all dealerships....no need to buy "right at the motor show."

What's good about motor shows is you get to see tons of vehicles (and pretties) all in one place....more than you ever could by visiting dealerships. Set your butt in as many vehicles as you desire. Enjoy.

OMODA & JAECOO acknowledge rapid brand growth and are accelerating the development of after-sales service

OMODA & JAECOO are also in the process of fulfilling the accessory orders for those who have already received their JAECOO 5 EV vehicles, including warranty certificates , owner's manuals , floor mats , and V2L equipment . Currently, there are approximately 6,000 sets of these accessories pending. The company confirms that all orders will be delivered to dealers by February. Furthermore, the company is aware of potential delays in the installation of wall chargers. Those who have already received their vehicles will gradually receive and have the equipment installed by April 2026.

Furthermore, regarding spare parts management, the current warehouse stocks 5,400 SKUs , or 80,000 pieces. Recently, an additional 42,000 essential spare parts have been added, prioritizing imports via air freight for urgently needed parts not available in Thailand. By February 16th , all backordered spare parts, totaling approximately 3,800 pieces , will be delivered to distributors to address the pending spare parts issues for consumers.

However, it must be acknowledged that the after-sales service standards for electric vehicles (EVs) in Thailand, especially from Chinese manufacturers, may not yet be comparable to those of other manufacturers that have been present in Thailand for a long time. Therefore, this year, Chinese Automakers are placing significant emphasis on after-sales service, a key factor in building consumer confidence. Electric vehicles possess more advanced technology than internal combustion engine vehicles, and many consumers are switching from EVs to EVs, making after-sales service a primary focus for these brands.

https://autolifethailand.tv/omoda-jaecoo-after-sales-service-2026/

Its good to see a brand that knows the issues and take steps to resolve those issues rather than going into camel mode and burying their heads in the sand hoping that issues will go away on their own

13 hours ago, JustAnotherFarang said:

Ive never been to one of these shows so I think I will give it a go as I want to buy a Jaecoo J5 - anything I should be aware of before I take the plunge?

Sales/registrations of of JAECOO 5's have been definitely pegged the meter! Below are DLT Jan 2026 registrations stats just for the JAECOO 5 models (Dynamic and Max). I didn't include the JAECOO 6 and other model stats since you said you are interested in the 5 model. Heck, just in Bangkok proper only 4,415 were registered for Jan.

15 hours ago, Bandersnatch said:

@Peciacake and @Alotoftravel have both bought one. So hopefully they will reply to this or you could message them.

I sat in while @Peciacake did a test drive and I was very impressed with how much car you get for the money. He hasn't reported any problems since his purchase.

Our Jaecoo J5 has been almost fault free since purchase in October 2025. Our only issue has been the cabin switch for the tailgate stopped working in the first week of ownership. Otherwise we are very satisfied with the car. Currently averaging 12.1 kWh/100 kl's in ECO mode which gives a theoretical range of 460 klm's. Will continue to work on getting this < / = 10 kWh/100 with more conservative driving. One point to be aware of is the calibration of the energy recovery settings. Ours is set to LOW as it is the smoothest when decelerating, and it is still not as smooth as I'd like. Hopefully there will be an update that fixes this so lifting off the throttle isn't as intrusive. While this does detract somewhat from the driving experience, overall the car is still enjoyable to drive. It offers excellent value for money given the trim and standard equipment offered.

So the Ora Good Cat is on its way out !!

But GWM say they will release 5 new models in 2026 starting with the Ora 5 SUV.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/motoring/3189005/gwm-says-farewell-to-ora-good-cat

2 hours ago, Peciacake said:

@Peciacake and @Alotoftravel have both bought one. So hopefully they will reply to this or you could message them.

I sat in while @Peciacake did a test drive and I was very impressed with how much car you get for the money. He hasn't reported any problems since his purchase

Everything is fine so far except for the issues on steep mountain trips. This was mentioned in this youtube . Not sure it is all J5 but I certainly experience it like Bjorn.

https://youtu.be/Vawu-_gzBoc?si=BFD02tn3bNs1bzYT

10 minutes ago, Alotoftravel said:

Everything is fine so far except for the issues on steep mountain trips.

This Is just Jaecoo J5 and not electric cars in general? Asking for a friend who lives on a hill.

22 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

This Is just Jaecoo J5 and not electric cars in general? Asking for a friend who lives on a hill.

My favourite traffic light grand prix with an ICE car is the bottom of a steep hill. All those gear changes and lack of torque makes the difference between ICE and EV so evident.

20 hours ago, JustAnotherFarang said:

Ive never been to one of these shows so I think I will give it a go as I want to buy a Jaecoo J5 - anything I should be aware of before I take the plunge?

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

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.

On 2/4/2026 at 8:20 PM, JustAnotherFarang said:

Ive never been to one of these shows so I think I will give it a go as I want to buy a Jaecoo J5 - anything I should be aware of before I take the plunge?

I own the J5 for 2 months now. More than happy with it. It drives efficiently, steering and suspension is fine if you don't drive too fast. There are a few quirks I already got used to: sometimes Android Auto needs a reset to work, the remote fob auto lock/unlock will not always work. Also drive in lowest regen mode and don't trust the lane keep assist, but adaptive stop-and-go cruise control works fine.

I did a few DIY improvements, like a rat guard plate to prevent rodents from entering the cabin and extend the AC outlet hose so water will not spread to the metal underbody. The last one took me less than half an hour of work. I noticed that the sea journey from China left some tiny rust spots on the underbody parts. As I live 4km from the coast, I will give the metal underbody, wheel arches and door sills cavities some rust protection treatment [Tuff Kote Dinol]. If you like to drive fast, then I would suggest to do some 3D wheel balancing and lower suspension tuning.

I did not have any issues with the car, except one keyfob key did not work, but it was repaired in an hour by Hua Hin service center. But on facebook you will read people stranded, because the software went haywire. So I have a wrench in the car to disconnect the 12V battery to reset the system. Others complain about long wait times for spare parts. I'll keep my ICE car, until this will be resolved.

The reasons I bought the car. I would have liked to buy a BYD or MG because of it's popularity. But I drove them it was not to my liking. The same with Deepal S05. AION UT I like driving it, but the company is loosing money. But J5 drove well, price performance is the best, and they expanded their dealerships quite fast. I bought the car at Phetchaburi not knowing 2 weeks later that there was a branch in Hua Hin. The factory to produce J5 in Thailand will start this month. Chery the mother company is expanding fast with new brands/models like Chery, Tiggo, Jetour and Lepas. I just hope they will manage this expansion well. But recently Omoda & Jaecoo admitted that they need to improve on the after sales and spare parts.

On facebook there were posts recently from renowned 3rd party EV repair shops, that disassembled the J5 battery and looked at the rear suspension. Overall the quality of materials was good. As J5 can also be bought as an ICE car, they had to make some compromises with the battery layout. The battery is easy to disassemble and is modular, however at the back 3 modules are stacked on top of each other. This makes maintenance, like cell balancing and replacing cells by a repair center harder to do. But the cooling materials are well made.

The Jaecoo 5EV is definitely selling extremely well in Thailand. Although entering the Thai market late in 2025 the J5 still finished 2025 as the 6th best selling EV....and for Jan 2026 it's the top dog!

EV Registrations for 2025

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

Jan 2026 EV Registrations

https://autolifethailand.tv/register-ev-bev-january-2026-thailand/

42 minutes ago, Pib said:

The Jaecoo 5EV is definitely selling extremely well in Thailand. Although entering the Thai market late in 2025 the J5 still finished 2025 as the 6th best selling EV....and for Jan 2026 it's the top dog!

EV Registrations for 2025

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

Jan 2026 EV Registrations

https://autolifethailand.tv/register-ev-bev-january-2026-thailand/

They do look quite nice, and love the squared off front, instead of sloping down, and one thing I really like about our ZS.

A lot of car for the price, as pointed out by 'B', though the spinning tire issue in vid is a bit concerning.

2 hours ago, KhunLA said:

They do look quite nice, and love the squared off front, instead of sloping down, and one thing I really like about our ZS.

The "boxy/square" look is back in style. That became obvious to me over the last year or so by driving around the Bangkok area everyday and seeing so many new cars with a boxy, square look.......and from seeing many boxy/square looking new models in one place at the recent Motor Expo 2025 like Jaecoo, Omodo, Chery, etc., vehicles.

It's now "Hip to be Square" again. I'm still waiting for the BIG chrome bumpers (that can double as a bulldozer blade) to come back into style! 😁

47 minutes ago, Pib said:

It's now "Hip to be Square" again. I'm still waiting for the BIG chrome bumpers (that can double as a bulldozer blade) to come back into style! 😁

Oh hell no ... hate chrome anything on a car or truck. MC, yea, 4 wheels, NO. Seems the E-vans are trying to out do each other on who can make the ugliest front grill.

1 hour ago, KhunLA said:

Oh hell no ... hate chrome anything on a car or truck. MC, yea, 4 wheels, NO. Seems the E-vans are trying to out do each other on who can make the ugliest front grill.

Yeap....I too see humongous van grilles as ugly...and some are even scary looking. But nowdays apparently a humongous grille is considered a status symbol, a face thing...and that is what many people want. Ah, to each his own.

But these modern day chome-looking HiSo grilles would be destroyed by yesteryear real chome plated steel bumpers which wouldn't even show a dent or scratch. 😀

2 hours ago, Pib said:

Yeap....I too see humongous van grilles as ugly...and some are even scary looking. But nowdays apparently a humongous grille is considered a status symbol, a face thing...and that is what many people want. Ah, to each his own.

But these modern day chome-looking HiSo grilles would be destroyed by yesteryear real chome plated steel bumpers which wouldn't even show a dent or scratch. 😀

I blame BMW, they started it with their grills getting bigger and uglier each generation - their current gen are a monstrosity. Then Lexus followed. Then everyone piled in.

The thing is these EVs don't need grills, there's no radiator behind there. The could do much nicer sleeker designs (like Deepal).

On 2/7/2026 at 10:18 AM, KhunLA said:

They do look quite nice, and love the squared off front, instead of sloping down, and one thing I really like about our ZS.

A lot of car for the price, as pointed out by 'B', though the spinning tire issue in vid is a bit concerning.

watching the video is disconcerting as the driver knows his electric cars and how they perform. My question is do we think these significant faults can be ironed out with software upgrades and if so, when?

3 hours ago, MonoXimian said:

watching the video is disconcerting as the driver knows his electric cars and how they perform. My question is do we think these significant faults can be ironed out with software upgrades and if so, when?

Tires spinning, and not the way most do when losing traction. Ours will lose traction occasionally we I punch it, but in a more expected way, with the lite sound of 'peeling out'.

I'm thinking the 'J5', it's more of a tire issue, and a harder, smoother tire, simply not gripping the road surface.

Not an issue as long as you are aware of it, though hate to find out the first time while passing or on a wet curve. I'd have to test the hell out of those, in a large, empty parking lot, wet & dry surface. Pushing them to their limits, to find out their limitation.

4 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Tires spinning, and not the way most do when losing traction. Ours will lose traction occasionally we I punch it, but in a more expected way, with the lite sound of 'peeling out'.

I'm thinking the 'J5', it's more of a tire issue, and a harder, smoother tire, simply not gripping the road surface.

Not an issue as long as you are aware of it, though hate to find out the first time while passing or on a wet curve. I'd have to test the hell out of those, in a large, empty parking lot, wet & dry surface. Pushing them to their limits, to find out their limitation.

I really appreciate the information, as the other cars, like LeapMotor and Deepal, are a little beyond my budget. 599000 hits the sweet spot for me

Anyone seen these on the road?

REVER Commercial Vehicles | รุ่นรถ

https://www.revercommercial.com/th/all-product/product/byd-t3/4

41 minutes ago, Bandersnatch said:

Anyone seen these on the road?

REVER Commercial Vehicles | รุ่นรถ

https://www.revercommercial.com/th/all-product/product/byd-t3/4

No, but really low spec'd for the price. As was thinking about, maybe a camper van, but specs really turned me off.

8 hours ago, KhunLA said:

No, but really low spec'd for the price. As was thinking about, maybe a camper van, but specs really turned me off.

I expect it's been marketed as a local delivery van that can charge overnight. I'd much rather be stuck behind one of these at the lights compared to the usual smokey diesel.

13 hours ago, Bandersnatch said:

Anyone seen these on the road?

REVER Commercial Vehicles | รุ่นรถ

https://www.revercommercial.com/th/all-product/product/byd-t3/4

In 2568 (a.k.a., 2025) BYD sold/registered a fair amount of T3's....see quantity in far right column of snapshot below....a snapshot from DLT registration stats for 2025.

The center two columns show which provinces the T3's were sold/registered....0=Bangkok, 230=Chonburi, 240=Rayong, 500=Chiang Rai, etc. Minor differences/options in the model results in multiple listings for some provinces....like Bangkok or other provinces might be shown several times but these are separate registrations; not duplications. Like with many electric vehicles Bangkok and surrounding provinces (i.e., greater Bangkok area) is where most were bought/registered/being used.....most likely fleet/commercial/business use for short/daily deliveries.

And I actually saw a T3 in a BYD dealership once but I didn't look at it closely....it was in a dealership in Nakhon Pathom province....a province that borders Bangkok.

15 hours ago, Bandersnatch said:

Anyone seen these on the road?

REVER Commercial Vehicles | รุ่นรถ

https://www.revercommercial.com/th/all-product/product/byd-t3/4

Yes, our local Makro recently got a few of these and also installed chargers (only for charging Makro vehicles).