File pictures courtesy of ThaiRath

 

The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) plans to lease 1,520 electric air-conditioned buses (EVs) with a total project value of 15.355 billion baht. The draft Terms of Reference (TOR) was published on 19 September 2025 for public consultation, which ends on 26 September, with the goal of opening the tender in October. The buses are expected to begin entering service from late 2026 through October 2027.

 

BMTA Governor Kittikan Chomduang Jaruworapongkul stated that the TOR allows for a seven-year lease of low-floor EV buses equipped with charging systems. Each bus must be at least 10.5 metres long, 2.55 metres wide and 3.35 metres high, capable of travelling 200 kilometres per full charge and reaching a maximum speed of 70 km/h. Delivery will occur in three tranches: 500 buses within 180 days, another 500 within 270 days and the final 520 within 360 days.

 

The project aims to replace buses over 30 years old and enhance public transport services with clean energy vehicles. Bus suppliers must meet strict qualifications, including prior contracts of at least 1 billion baht and annual revenues of 1 billion baht in related businesses. At least 40% of materials or components must be locally produced. Failure to meet daily or monthly delivery targets incurs a compensation of 10,000 baht per bus per day.

 

BMTA has received preliminary interest from 11 private companies, including State Railway of Thailand PCL, Thai Smile Bus Co., Phanat Assembly Co., Nakhonchai Air Co., Reve Automotive Co., Scg Innovation Co., Pure Energy PCL, Absolute Assembly Co., Next Point PCL, Arun Plus Co., and First Transport Co. The consultation period allows stakeholders and the public to provide comments before the tender formally opens.

 

Officials expect that, if no substantive objections are raised, the tender will be announced immediately in October 2025, with bus deliveries beginning late 2026. The programme represents a significant step in modernising Bangkok’s public transport network and improving service quality for commuters.

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• BMTA will lease 1,520 EV buses valued at 15.355 billion baht to replace ageing fleet.

• Bus deliveries are scheduled in three tranches from late 2026 to October 2027.

• Suppliers must meet strict qualifications and local content requirements.

 

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  Adapted by Asean Now from Thairath 2025-09-23

 

 

 

 

 

One has to question if these are the same busses the Bangkok authority banned a few years bsck because the were manufed in China, Do you not think it strange they are the exact same colour.

 

10,000,000 (ten million) THB per bus??!!

 

27 minutes ago, Hardcastle P said:

One has to question if these are the same busses the Bangkok authority banned a few years bsck because the were manufed in China, Do you not think it strange they are the exact same colour.

 

No. These are fully electric. Those ones were NGV. And come on, that was in 2016.

And there aren't any buses yet as it hasn't gone out to tender.