First-car programme officially closed on September 30



BANGKOK: -- The cabinet on Tuesday approved the closure of the first-car programme as of September 30 as proposed by the Finance Ministry.

This means that those who made bookings of their first cars would not be eligible to claim financial support from the government if they do not buy a car within September 30. Also, those who have bought their first cars and have not yet declared them with authorities concerned within September 30 will also lose the right to claim financial support from the government.

As a result of economic slowdown, many potential buyers who made bookings have forsaken their bookings because they could not afford to buy. Many who have bought the cars have their cars confiscated because they could not afford the instalments.

Altogether the government has spent 90 billion baht to support about one million car buyers.

The first car programme was initiated by the Yingluck government in 2011 to spur the economy. But delivery of the cars during the early stage was interrupted by a big flood which made it impossible for car assembly plants to operate.

About 1.2 million have joined the programme. But over 100,000 of them have yet to produce documents with the Excise Department to claim financial support.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/first-car-programme-officially-closed-on-september-30


-- Thai PBS 2015-09-09

September 30 set as final day for people to take delivery under first car buyer program

BANGKOK, 9 September 2015 (NNT) – The Cabinet has set September 30 as the final date for those who joined the first car buyer scheme to take delivery of their car.

The first car buyer tax rebate scheme, launched by the previous government, terminated after December 31, 2012. However, the final date for taking delivery of the vehicle was not set. The Cabinet yesterday approved the Ministry of Finance's suggested final date for the car delivery period – September 30 – after which potential buyer must have their vehicles delivered or will no longer be eligible for the tax benefit.

Some 1.2 million people applied to the first car buyer scheme, and about 1.1 million have already claimed their tax return. The roughly 100,000 remaining would-be first car buyers will now have to take delivery of their vehicle by the end of the month or forfeit their right to the vehicle tax rebate. Any additional documents required will then have to be submitted within 90 days after the car is delivered.


-- NNT 2015-09-09

Amazing Thailand, still trying to run before it's learned to walk. All that money the government spent could have gone to investing into higher driving standards which is evidently needed, in a country where road traffic accidents are amongst the highest in the world.

Lots and lots all over Thailand of repossed cars. I approached the owner of one of these field/ storage lots and he just shook his head.........

So will those that cannot make the payments and have their

cars reprocessed,have to repay the 100,000 THB,or is that

expecting a little too much,

regards Worgeordie

...and of course it is considered a great success: Thailand ranks among countries with highest road deaths

No matter what- as long as we make it to the top ranks.

"First-car programme officially closed on September 30"

Crikey, is it October already!!

this is interesting, we bought a car last year and were under the understanding that the program was already closed, by the sound of this my wife can still claim the rebate for another 3 weeks, you beauty.

With so many defaulting why are second hand cars so expensive in Thailand compared to Europe or the US?

I don't believe it.

With so many defaulting why are second hand cars so expensive in Thailand compared to Europe or the US?

Come back in 2 or 3 years and the same cars will be sitting there rotting at the same old price.

What about the roads to use them on?

Amazing Thailand, still trying to run before it's learned to walk. All that money the government spent could have gone to investing into higher driving standards which is evidently needed, in a country where road traffic accidents are amongst the highest in the world.

Well I wonder who could you blame for all those populist policies that nearly bankrupted Thailand

this is interesting, we bought a car last year and were under the understanding that the program was already closed, by the sound of this my wife can still claim the rebate for another 3 weeks, you beauty.

Nope. You can't..

" The first car buyer tax rebate scheme, launched by the previous government, terminated after December 31, 2012. However, the final date for taking delivery of the vehicle was not set. "