15 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

You're making up the numbers. 

 

https://www.mreport.co.th/en/news/statistic-and-ranking/103-thailand-auto-sales-2024

 

 

 

Actually it's slowing as the incentives dry up and people realize how inconvenient they are.

 

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/motoring/2932786/ev-overview-shows-sales-growth-slowing

 

 

People are wising up. They hear stories from friends who have bought them, or in my case, sister in law. 

 

Soon your neighbours will be asking "Why it take 1 hour to charge and only go 350km?" before trading it in for 50% of the purchase price and buying an Isuzu truck.

 

 

Numbers are spot on, and the usual reading comprehension or deflection from the haters.  Talking about cars, not trucks.

 

I'm seeing that 28% to be ~50% in ~5 years 

 

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1365600-phuket-cannabis-shops-raided-in-major-regulatory-crackdown/

 

1 hour ago, KhunLA said:

 

Numbers are spot on, and the usual reading comprehension or deflection from the haters.  Talking about cars, not trucks.

 

I'm seeing that 28% to be ~50% in ~5 years 

 

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1365600-phuket-cannabis-shops-raided-in-major-regulatory-crackdown/

 

 

So you are excluding many forms of ICE vehicles to make the percentage of EV sold look bigger. 😅

 

As I showed, growth is slowing, which part of this didn't you understand?

 

 

Like any new "exciting" product on the market with massive incentives there was a rush at the start. Now the incentives are withdrawn and the hype is over and reality sets in, growth is falling. Car manufacturers in many markets are being forced by government mandates to increase the share of EV's they make. Many offer huge subsidies on EV's. Why? Because if left to market forces without interference and Chinese dumping of cars on foreign markets often at a loss (hence NETA's bankruptcy), most people wouldn't buy them and they know it. 

 

And why are you linking to stories about Cannabis shops? Oh actually, that explains quite a lot... 😄

13 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

So you are excluding many forms of ICE vehicles to make the percentage of EV sold look bigger. 😅

 

So you are including all vehicles, when I specifically stated cars, to make the % look smaller.  Only one BEV truck available in TH, so kind of irrelevant to compare truck sales.   Many of those are used for long haul driving, where 'time IS money'.  That is going to be a very slow transition.

 

Although, when there are more BEV options, those for personal use, would be upgrading for sure.

Just now, KhunLA said:

 

So you are including all vehicles, when I specifically stated cars, to make the % look smaller.  Only one BEV truck available in TH, so kind of irrelevant to compare truck sales.   Many of those are used for long haul driving, where 'time IS money'.  That is going to be a very slow transition.

 

Although, when there are more BEV options, those for personal use, would be upgrading for sure.

 

An electric truck would be about as much use as a chocolate teapot, that's why manufacturers are slow to make them.

 

They're OK for occasional use as a weekend shopping trolley. Assuming they don't also go bankrupt like NETA.

 

https://autopostglobal.com/car-news-industry/article/58040/#google_vignette

 

Off topic post removed - reminder this topic is “Advise on buying a BYD car.”

@JonnyF it’s you who doesn’t understand the numbers.

 

EV growth slowed in 2024. EV sales increased in 2024. Both these statements are true.

 

Growth can be slower whilst sales increase. This is what happened in 2024 with EV’s.

 

ICE sales slowed much more whilst EV sales grew.

 

The market share of EV’s is growing consistently whilst the market share of ICE is contracting consistently.

1 hour ago, JBChiangRai said:

@JonnyF it’s you who doesn’t understand the numbers.

 

EV growth slowed in 2024. EV sales increased in 2024. Both these statements are true.

 

Of course. I have never said otherwise (see below). Try arguing against things I actually said. Once again, see my exact words below.

 

16 hours ago, JonnyF said:

As I showed, growth is slowing

 

 

1 hour ago, JBChiangRai said:

 

Growth can be slower whilst sales increase. This is what happened in 2024 with EV’s.

 

You are stating the obvious. Growth is slowing as I have already said. Much like it does in economies before a recession. Large growth is common in new, novel products to the market.

 

1 hour ago, JBChiangRai said:

 

ICE sales slowed much more whilst EV sales grew.

 

The market share of EV’s is growing consistently whilst the market share of ICE is contracting consistently.

 

Market sales of Betamax grew in the early 80's. Then it was quickly replaced. EV's are not a long term solution especially if buying from Chinese brands that are losing huge amounts of money and have a good chance of going bankrupt. See my link in one of my posts above. NETA already bankrupt. Who is next I wonder... 

 

But hey, if you want to support the CCP, and simultaneously incovenience yourself with an EV under the illusion that you are saving the planet, go ahead. More Petrol and Diesel for me. 

 

However, in a post asking for advice it is important to show both sides of the argument, not just a load of EV fanboys ignoring the clear and obvious downsides of them that you refuse to accept.  

Growth can not increase indefinitely.  What you failed to mention @JonnyF is that the entire auto industry suffered massively last year, it's still not recovered.

 

Whilst all this was happening, increasing numbers of people who would previously buy an ICE car, bought an EV.

 

Decreasing numbers of people who would previously buy an ICE car, bought another ICE car.

 

You're posts are misleading, you imply difficulties charging and other things are turning people off EV's, when the reality is market share is increasing so this can't be true.

 

You only have to look at the roads to see just how many people are driving EV's.  

 

To repeat, sales of EV's are increasing and taking away market share from new ICE sales.

 

9 minutes ago, JBChiangRai said:

Growth can not increase indefinitely.  What you failed to mention @JonnyF is that the entire auto industry suffered massively last year, it's still not recovered.

 

Whilst all this was happening, increasing numbers of people who would previously buy an ICE car, bought an EV.

 

Decreasing numbers of people who would previously buy an ICE car, bought another ICE car.

 

You're posts are misleading, you imply difficulties charging and other things are turning people off EV's, when the reality is market share is increasing so this can't be true.

 

You only have to look at the roads to see just how many people are driving EV's.  

 

To repeat, sales of EV's are increasing and taking away market share from new ICE sales.

 

 

It's hardly surprising sales grow when governments subsidie them, force manufacturers to make them and then thousands of them are dumped into markets and sold at a loss.

 

If you think that is a sustainable long term strategy, I recommend you don't go into business.

 

Meanwhile the issues with long charging times and comparatively smaller range remain despite your claims to the contrary. The following atricle is from before NETA went bankrupt. 

 

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/chinas-ev-market-faces-brutal-132300801.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAJEEUrPl9u6ORtMl2_UmUXz1oygY_iNhHMFRxWC2Knd0Z4EWIv6boZGYDvD9WJ6ocGJsvFa_w2cicsiZthui5E7Ltmx8YAeOdGM3G7PojYHFIwA61JVQN1U5R4DnJsWNNxn06hsRWNxq2Lnp6jmx4bmYhPW8rkvg2dtUsVTaZatK

 

 

So my advice to the OP would be proceed with caution. Buying a car that takes 20 times as long to fuel, has half the range, unproven long term reliability, high depreciation and is sold by a company that may well go bankrupt may not be the best idea. 

 

Of course, diehards of the EV cult will disagree. 

Don't.

1 hour ago, JBChiangRai said:

To repeat, sales of EV's are increasing and taking away market share from new ICE sales.

 

 

Meanwhile Hybrid sales — like the Yaris Cross and Camry — are increasing and taking away market share from new BEV sales.
 

In the first quarter of 2025 in Thailand, HEVs registered 37,262 units compared to just 25,889 for BEVs — a lead of nearly 44%. That’s 22.3% market share for hybrids versus 15.5% for BEVs.
 

Advantages of HEVs over BEVs

• Fast, hassle-free use — no charging, no range anxiety, no downtime

• Proven long-term reliability

• Better resale — i.e. lower depreciation — and therefore a running cost per km comparable to EVs.

https://theicct.org/publication/european-market-monitor-cars-vans-may-2025-jun25/

2 minutes ago, LosLobo said:

 

Meanwhile Hybrid sales — like the Yaris Cross and Camry — are increasing and taking away market share from new BEV sales.

In the first quarter of 2025 in Thailand, HEVs registered 37,262 units compared to just 25,889 for BEVs — a lead of nearly 44%. That’s 22.3% market share for hybrids versus 15.5% for BEVs.

Advantages of HEVs over BEVs

• Fast, hassle-free use — no charging, no range anxiety, no downtime

• Better resale value — i.e. lower depreciation — and therefore a running cost per km comparable to EVs

• Proven long-term reliability

European Market Monitor: Cars and vans (May 2025) - International Council on Clean Transportation

Yes, hybrid seems the way to go.

37 minutes ago, LosLobo said:

Meanwhile Hybrid sales — like the Yaris Cross and Camry — are increasing and taking away market share from new BEV sales.

In the first quarter of 2025 in Thailand, HEVs registered 37,262 units compared to just 25,889 for BEVs — a lead of nearly 44%. That’s 22.3% market share for hybrids versus 15.5% for BEVs.

 

You should really post the figures for non battery ICE cars as well. The fact that ICE cars are transitioning to EVs via HEVs will mean that soon all cars will have a battery.

 

HEVs are in actual fact "increasing and taking away market share from new" non battery ICE cars

 

 

 

Disadvantages of HEVs over BEVs

 

HEVs are more expensive than EVs - see my posts about the Camry and Accord compared to the BYD Seal EV

 

HEV have worse performance than EVs

 

They are more complicated as they have an ICE and EV motor and so are more expensive to service than an EV

 

They are more expensive to run than an EV as they have only a tiny 1kWh battery

 

The additional fuel economy of the HEV version of an ICE does not cover the additional purchase cost for people doing average mileage. 

 

 

 

 

 

HEVs are often used to meet minimum mileage regulations. 

 

 I think ICEVs and EVs both makes

 sense to me, but the only time I think HEVs make sense is if it’s the only way to get the model you want.

2 hours ago, JonnyF said:

 

It's hardly surprising sales grow when governments subsidie them, force manufacturers to make them and then thousands of them are dumped into markets and sold at a loss.

 

If you think that is a sustainable long term strategy, I recommend you don't go into business.

 

Meanwhile the issues with long charging times and comparatively smaller range remain despite your claims to the contrary. The following atricle is from before NETA went bankrupt. 

 

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/chinas-ev-market-faces-brutal-132300801.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAJEEUrPl9u6ORtMl2_UmUXz1oygY_iNhHMFRxWC2Knd0Z4EWIv6boZGYDvD9WJ6ocGJsvFa_w2cicsiZthui5E7Ltmx8YAeOdGM3G7PojYHFIwA61JVQN1U5R4DnJsWNNxn06hsRWNxq2Lnp6jmx4bmYhPW8rkvg2dtUsVTaZatK

 

 

So my advice to the OP would be proceed with caution. Buying a car that takes 20 times as long to fuel, has half the range, unproven long term reliability, high depreciation and is sold by a company that may well go bankrupt may not be the best idea. 

 

Of course, diehards of the EV cult will disagree. 

 

BYD is highly profitable and sitting on a mountain of cash.  

 

Could it be that the actual people who own EV's might know a bit more than an ignorant non-owner?

 

1 hour ago, LosLobo said:

 

Meanwhile Hybrid sales — like the Yaris Cross and Camry — are increasing and taking away market share from new BEV sales.
 

In the first quarter of 2025 in Thailand, HEVs registered 37,262 units compared to just 25,889 for BEVs — a lead of nearly 44%. That’s 22.3% market share for hybrids versus 15.5% for BEVs.
 

Advantages of HEVs over BEVs

• Fast, hassle-free use — no charging, no range anxiety, no downtime

• Proven long-term reliability

• Better resale — i.e. lower depreciation — and therefore a running cost per km comparable to EVs.

https://theicct.org/publication/european-market-monitor-cars-vans-may-2025-jun25/

 

Hybrid sales are increasing but they are not taking away market share from BVEV's they are taking away market share from ICE.

 

• Hybrid Market Share - Increasing
• BEV Market Share - Increasing
• ICE Market Share - Decreasing

 

So clearly the only declining market share is legacy dino fueled vehicles.  Hybrid cars are an interim step to BEV.  Many of the Hybrid buyers today will be BEV owners tomorrow, unlikely they will go back to ICE.

 

Hybrid's have many problems, not least being thy are 130 times more likely to catch fire than a BEV.

4 hours ago, JBChiangRai said:

 

BYD is highly profitable and sitting on a mountain of cash.  

 

Could it be that the actual people who own EV's might know a bit more than an ignorant non-owner?

 

 

Hybrid sales are increasing but they are not taking away market share from BVEV's they are taking away market share from ICE.

 

• Hybrid Market Share - Increasing
• BEV Market Share - Increasing
• ICE Market Share - Decreasing

 

So clearly the only declining market share is legacy dino fueled vehicles.  Hybrid cars are an interim step to BEV.  Many of the Hybrid buyers today will be BEV owners tomorrow, unlikely they will go back to ICE.

 

Hybrid's have many problems, not least being thy are 130 times more likely to catch fire than a BEV.

130 times more likely? That's a staggering number. Do you have a link for that?

13 minutes ago, Nacho Libre said:

130 times more likely? That's a staggering number. Do you have a link for that?

 

This has been discussed on this forum so many times... 

 

ICE: 1,500 fires per 100,000 vehicles

Hybrids:  3,475 per 100,000 vehicles

EVs: 25 fires per 100,000 vehicles

 

https://www.blazestack.com/blog/how-many-ev-fires-in-2023-2024

https://www.pinfa.eu/news/fire-risks-of-hybrid-ev-and-ice-cars

https://www.reddit.com/r/OptimistsUnite/comments/1if2buj/evs_are_safer_than_ices_of_all_car_fires_in

 

 

2 hours ago, Nacho Libre said:

130 times more likely? That's a staggering number. Do you have a link for that?

Thought that was common knowledge.  Do you really need a link, to find out what's been discussed so many times on the forum.   Along with Google in less than 1 minute of searching, to show EV & ICE sales & market share numbers, and fire stats, that are easy enough for anyone to understand.

 

Do you have a link for that ? ... has got to be the most annoying reply, and usually from lazy, ignorant people.  It really is this easy ...

 

 

Ice road truckers will never be using E trucks

1 hour ago, 3NUMBAS said:

Ice road truckers will never be using E trucks

This is a thread about someone wanting a passenger car and asking about BYD.

What have ice road truckers got to do with anything??

Intergalactic space ships will never be using e-rockets either. 

On 7/3/2025 at 5:12 PM, Nacho Libre said:

So I'm thinking of buying a new car and I'm considering buying an EV this time, but hestitate due to the minimal EV infrastructure here in Thailand. 

I see the BYD cars every time I venture out these days and have read that they've surpassed Tesla as the most sold EV in Europe so I guess the quality should be reasonable. Does anyone have any tips regarding this brand and/or EVs in Thailand in general?

 

It all depend on your requirements. Let me explain.

 

I started my search for an EV about 9 months ago. One that can replace my 10 year old Mazda 3 hatchback. I'm looking for a family car with a firm suspension and having driving dynamics, fit for traveling long distance with 4 adults and has luggage space of around 450-500L.

 

I am still searching, but I've learned a lot. Here are my findings:

1) many EV's below 1.1 M baht will miss the basics of a firm suspension, driving dynamics that you will find in a Mazda hatchback or Honda Civic. Many have a floaty suspension, except MG4 and MG S5.

 

2) why I did not go for the MG4 or S5?

Well I needed at least a 60 kwh for a little bit of range of 400 km WLTP. However the battery of MG this size is made of NMC. NMC is lighter than LFP, however has major drawbacks. It degrades faster in a hot climate, has less charge cycles. You can't charge so often to 100% and is deemed less safe. MG gives a lifetime warranty, but this does not include a battery replacement if the health falls below 70%. This would not be economical to MG, because they have to fulfill this obligation during a lifetime.

 

3) serviceability

 

Any car needs a good service. Many EV brands have their dealers around Bangkok or big cities. If you are like me living in a rural area, I need to restrict myself to BYD and MG, which are within 1 hour drive. MG seems to have a better name for serviceability and expertise. 

 

4) availability of spare parts
This seems to be an issue across all EV brands, even with the models that are made in Thailand. 

 

5) range anxiety

Efficiency, weight and size of battery are correlated. For example, these cars have almost the same realistic range: MG S5 with a 64 kwh battery / MG IM6, 75 kwh / BYD Sealion 7, 82.5 kwh.

If you want the least amount of range anxiety, choose the lightest EV with the best efficiency that has the fastest DC charger. You can follow Bjorn Nyland on Youtube for this. And don't try to challenge the physics of air and road friction.
 

6) EV's are more software dependent

EV's are fun because of the tech and safety features, however this means they are also more complex to grasp how to use effectively and dependent on a reliable and fluent user interface. There are examples of cars that suffer from this, like the MG4.

In this respect BYD scores better than MG. For the IM cars of SAIC sold under the MG brand outside China, the software is much better.

7) if you think you will reduce CO2 emission after buying an EV, think twice if your mileage is low like mine.

I am driving 10k km per year. I've asked chatgpt to calculate for me based on the size of the battery, the chemistry and the energy mix of the Thai grid. It would take me 5 years of EV driving to compensate the CO2 emmission in producing a new 60 kwh LFP EV. For a similar sized NMC car it would take 9 years. It would make more sense to continue driving my old Mazda, or move to a a more efficient ICEV with at least 50k km mileage.

 

8) will my car brand still be there after a decade?

 

We are in a period of transition. This applies to new and established brands. Who would have thought that Volkswagen is now in a period of struggle for survival. Who will survive? Who knows. If you are worried about this question, just stay put.

 

How will I proceed?
I have stretched my budget from 1 M to 1.3 M baht to cater for the sedan like MG IM models IM6 [a bobbly liftback] and IM5 [a skinnier liftback]. On the BYD newcomers for 2025, I am not expecting Atto 3 minor change to be less floaty. Maybe their new tires will do wonders.