Thai EV Market Remains Unfazed by European Sales Downturn

[webfact]

File photo courtesy of Wikipedia for reference only.

 

Contrary to an 11% slump in European electric vehicle (EV) sales, Thai business operators maintain an optimistic outlook for the local growth of the EV market. They attribute this optimism to unique local conditions, differentiating them from the European market.

 

High insurance and repair costs, inadequate charging facilities, and termination of governmental EV subsidies have contributed to the European market downturn, according to Bloomberg. However, Thailand entrepreneurs foresee ongoing robust growth in the local EV market.

 

Sharge Management Co’s MD, Peerapatr Sirichantaropart, identifies competitive EV pricing, brand diversity, and substantial charging facilities as key to the Thai market's prospective growth.

 

A 'package' labeled EV3.5 offers subsidies, reduced import duties for completely assembled cars, and a cut in excise tax. As part of the package, EV manufacturers must commence local production by 2026. It is anticipated that this should make EVs more price-accessible, thus broadening their buyer base.

 

The sentiment was echoed by Surapong Paisitpatanapong, Vice-Chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), who anticipates that large-scale local production will help lower EV prices.

 

Significantly affecting EV purchasing decisions, underlined Vasu Klomkliang, Senior VP for Strategy and Investment Planning at Energy Absolute Plc, is the availability of charging infrastructure. He added that unique to the Thai EV market are cheaper electricity costs and home charging-friendly laws.

 

However, the FTI advises against drawing early conclusions, suggesting a 4-5 year wait for a more definitive understanding of the Thai EV market. Factors such as geopolitical conflicts and higher energy costs, not just ending subsidies, contribute to decreasing EV sales in Europe, noted Surapong.

 

Support from the government, domestic production, and a favourable economic climate signify a promising future for Thailand's EV market despite the recent European downturn.

 

-- 2024-05-07

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[Tropicalevo]

I have no interest in electric vehicles. I think that road deaths will be higher because of them.

I have less than 50% hearing and I never hear the little sods when they are racing up behind me when I am walking.

They are silent killers.

The rules for crossing the roads have always been Stop, Look,Listen.

How the heck the visibly impaired manage I will never understand.

Then I try really hard to never buy Chinese goods.

EV no thank you.

[Gweiloman]

18 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

I have no interest in electric vehicles. I think that road deaths will be higher because of them.

I have less than 50% hearing and I never hear the little sods when they are racing up behind me when I am walking.

They are silent killers.

The rules for crossing the roads have always been Stop, Look,Listen.

How the heck the visibly impaired manage I will never understand.

Then I try really hard to never buy Chinese goods.

EV no thank you.

If you bought a Chinese made hearing aid, you might be able to hear them lol.

[Lee65]

Source?

[JBChiangRai]

50 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

…

I have less than 50% hearing and I never hear the little sods when they are racing up behind me when I am walking.

…

EV’s 1

hearing impaired 0

[dinsdale]

Thailand is a dumping ground for cheap Chinese EV's. Now China wants to start making them here presumably because it's cheaper. 

[JBChiangRai]

3 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Thailand is a dumping ground for cheap Chinese EV's. Now China wants to start making them here presumably because it's cheaper. 

And long may they continue disrupting the Legacy ICE market. Giving consumers a choice of quality new energy vehicles 

[Robert Paulson]

Hub of cheap ev 

[Furioso]

I'd say go for the ice MG5 before touching the ev MG4. A world of difference. 

[transam]

10 minutes ago, JBChiangRai said:

And long may they continue disrupting the Legacy ICE market. Giving consumers a choice of quality new energy vehicles 

"Quality", where has that come from...?  🤔

[JBChiangRai]

11 minutes ago, Furioso said:

I'd say go for the ice MG5 before touching the ev MG4. A world of difference. 

you’re absolutely right, there is a world of difference

[JBChiangRai]

9 minutes ago, transam said:

"Quality", where has that come from...?  🤔

was it JP Morgan? It was one of the big American financial firms who paid experts to rip a BYD Seal apart, and then they informed German manufacturers that they were in trouble, big trouble, because the Chinese car was incredibly well-made and very high-quality.

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Contrary to an 11% slump in European electric vehicle (EV) sales, Thai business operators maintain an optimistic outlook for the local growth of the EV market. They attribute this optimism to unique local conditions, differentiating them from the European market.

And the very cheap Chinese brand EV's,

what someone is not saying though, is for every EV bought is a Hybrid/Truck/Sedan not bought.

One market increases another decreases.

[transam]

30 minutes ago, JBChiangRai said:

was it JP Morgan? It was one of the big American financial firms who paid experts to rip a BYD Seal apart, and then they informed German manufacturers that they were in trouble, big trouble, because the Chinese car was incredibly well-made and very high-quality.

A link would be nice, could be interesting..........☺️

[bristolgeoff]

The Thais have all the Chinese makers plus others,don,t know if I will get one but cheap here.europe or the west are trying to stop the flood of them with tariffs.i think the Chinese know this and that is why they look at markets here

[Peterphuket]

2 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

I have no interest in electric vehicles. I think that road deaths will be higher because of them.

I have less than 50% hearing and I never hear the little sods when they are racing up behind me when I am walking.

They are silent killers.

The rules for crossing the roads have always been Stop, Look,Listen.

How the heck the visibly impaired manage I will never understand.

Then I try really hard to never buy Chinese goods.

EV no thank you.

You forget to mention at the traffic light: from 0 to 100 in 4 seconds.

[transam]

3 minutes ago, Peterphuket said:

You forget to mention at the traffic light: from 0 to 100 in 4 seconds.

Which would mean more accidents. How much is the annual insurance on a 0-60mph EV car then, not in LOS cos insurance is another.....😱...... subject.. 🤭  ?

[Bandersnatch]

Rained all day yesterday and most of today. I don’t have a grid connection as I power the house and my EVs from solar. My BYD Seal has the equivalent of 6 tesla power walls of backup power so I plugged it into my solar system and it fully powered my house.

 

The rainstorm has meant the grid has been down for several hours.

 

 

 

 

 

[Purdey]

Are Chinese EVs really that cheap? Many stories now are that China sells its EVs abroad at double the price they sell for in China.

 

https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/why-byds-ev-exports-sell-twice-china-price-2024-04-26/

https://cleantechnica.com/2024/04/30/prices-of-some-byd-cars-in-export-markets-are-double-or-triple-prices-in-china/

 

[Bandersnatch]

12 minutes ago, Purdey said:

Are Chinese EVs really that cheap? Many stories now are that China sells its EVs abroad at double the price they sell for in China.

There is a price war going on in China right now so prices there can’t be compared to other markets. Here in Thailand prices are cheaper than Europe. My top of the range BYD Seal is cheaper than an equivalent Honda Accord or Toyota Camry and has way better performance and specs which would explain the better sales figures 

 

[transam]

3 hours ago, Bandersnatch said:

Rained all day yesterday and most of today. I don’t have a grid connection as I power the house and my EVs from solar. My BYD Seal has the equivalent of 6 tesla power walls of backup power so I plugged it into my solar system and it fully powered my house.

 

The rainstorm has meant the grid has been down for several hours.

 

 

 

 

 

I hope you wear rubber gloves and boots with all that lecy stuff going on...🤗

[dinsdale]

5 hours ago, Peterphuket said:

You forget to mention at the traffic light: from 0 to 100 in 4 seconds.

Who cares. What's the point. What about the more you do 0 to 100 in 4 seconds the less range you get and charging will be needed sooner with charging for most people with EV's requiring fossil fuels to make the electricity.

[dinsdale]

6 hours ago, JBChiangRai said:

was it JP Morgan? It was one of the big American financial firms who paid experts to rip a BYD Seal apart, and then they informed German manufacturers that they were in trouble, big trouble, because the Chinese car was incredibly well-made and very high-quality.

An interesting video is linked but here's a screen shot of BYD quality.

 

 

 

Edited May 7 by dinsdale

[Rampant Rabbit]

Early days  imo........give it  time

[Bandersnatch]

52 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Who cares. What's the point. What about the more you do 0 to 100 in 4 seconds the less range you get and charging will be needed sooner with charging for most people with EV's requiring fossil fuels to make the electricity.

Many EV owners on AN make some or in my case all of their EV power from solar. It is very easy to do here here in Sunny Thailand that’s why I don’t have a grid connection.

[Bandersnatch]

42 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

An interesting video is linked but here's a screen shot of BYD quality.

China Observer is a notorious Anti China channel. No sensible person would rely on it for information about EVs available here in Thailand.

 

Unlike you I own a BYD EV and the quality is excellent. I am also on several Thai BYD groups and can confirm there has not been one single BYD explosion or significant fire here.

 

 

[tomazbodner]

14 minutes ago, Bandersnatch said:

China Observer is a notorious Anti China channel. No sensible person would rely on it for information about EVs available here in Thailand.

 

Unlike you I own a BYD EV and the quality is excellent. I am also on several Thai BYD groups and can confirm there has not been one single BYD explosion or significant fire here.

 

 

Aha...https://thethaiger.com/news/national/week-old-electric-car-worth-over-a-million-baht-unexpectedly-catches-fire-at-udon-thani-mall-charging-point

 

That was just to set record straight. Personally, I like BYD Seal... a lot.

 

Edited May 7 by tomazbodner

[dinsdale]

43 minutes ago, Bandersnatch said:

Many EV owners on AN make some or in my case all of their EV power from solar. It is very easy to do here here in Sunny Thailand that’s why I don’t have a grid connection.

Fairly sure that EV owners on AN represent a tiny proportion of people here on AN. Now factor in all the foreigners that aren't on AN that have EV's. Now factor in the rest of the Thai population that have EV's. Now you can factor in out of all the people in Thailand that have EV's how many charge solely by solar and are off the grid. Add all this together and I reckon you would end up with sweet FA. The obvious next thing to think about would be how much of the total EV ownership in Thailand uses fosil fuel generated electricity to charge their cars. I'm guessing it would be the overwhelming majority.

Edited May 7 by dinsdale

[dinsdale]

1 hour ago, Bandersnatch said:

China Observer is a notorious Anti China channel. No sensible person would rely on it for information about EVs available here in Thailand.

 

Unlike you I own a BYD EV and the quality is excellent. I am also on several Thai BYD groups and can confirm there has not been one single BYD explosion or significant fire here.

 

 

China Obsever is not anti China it's anti CCP and why would Chinese imports be any different from the cars in China. Are they made to a different level for the export market? Are you saying the footage in this YT video is fake? Plenty of other articles and videos that show very similar things. As for your very confident statement "I am also on several Thai BYD groups and can confirm there has not been one single BYD explosion or significant fire here." @tomazbodner has shown otherwise. This happened when charging so there was obviously a quality issue.

https://www.nationthailand.com/special-edition/ev/40030792

What about this story....

"Bangkok’s governor has ordered an urgent review of all premises in the capital storing EV vehicles and batteries after a serious fire on Wednesday night gutted a building in the Chatuchak area of the city."

https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2023/09/09/ev-vehicle-concerns-after-bangkok-fire-bangkok-governor-chadchart/

 

 

Edited May 7 by dinsdale

[Bandersnatch]

1 hour ago, tomazbodner said:

Aha...https://thethaiger.com/news/national/week-old-electric-car-worth-over-a-million-baht-unexpectedly-catches-fire-at-udon-thani-mall-charging-point

 

That was just to set record straight. Personally, I like BYD Seal... a lot.

 

This case is well know in the EV community. It was a small electrical fire not a traction battery fire.

A battery fire in an EV happens under the car.

An electrical fire happens under the bonnet.