According to several local media reports, US electric car company Tesla registered a company in Thailand on May 25 with the main purpose of selling its electric vehicles in the country. The report noted that Tesla Inc. (Thailand), which has an initial registered capital of 3 million baht ($87,500), will only sell cars in Thailand, rather than produce or assemble cars locally, according to Thailand’s Ministry of Business Development. However, the company will also provide energy storage systems and install charging stations for its vehicles. Electric vehicle movement Tesla’s arrival in Thailand and…
According to several local media reports, US electric car company Tesla registered a company in Thailand on May 25 with the main purpose of selling its electric vehicles in the country.
Tesla Inc. (Thailand) has an initial registered capital of 3 million baht ($87,500), according to the Thai Ministry of Business Development
The report pointed out that Tesla will only sell cars in Thailand, rather than producing or assembling cars locally. However, the company will also provide energy storage systems and install charging stations for its vehicles.
Electric vehicle promotion
Tesla’s arrival in Thailand is linked to the Thai government’s push to use electric vehicles to reduce carbon emissions. In March, a budget of 3 billion baht was approved to subsidize the retail price of electric vehicles for Thai customers. The government will also reduce sales tax on cars.
In March, China’s Great Wall Motor and MG Motor agreed to participate in a government project to put a total of 2,000 electric vehicles on sale in Thailand. Mercedes, BMW, Honda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Foxconn and Hesen Motors have also expressed interest in selling electric vehicles in Thailand.
The Bangkok city government has begun installing electric vehicle charging stations across the city, initially free of charge. In April, Thai police leased a fleet of Teslas to replace Mercedes-Benz A-Class sedans for the protection of senior government officials.
Tesla expands in Southeast Asia
Meanwhile, Tesla has been looking to open stores elsewhere in Southeast Asia.Indonesia appears to be the largest potential market, where Tesla is reported approved Construction of a battery and electric vehicle factory in an industrial park in Java province.
Tesla also intends to build “supercharging stations” in Malaysia, presumably to support Singapore-based Tesla vehicles on Malaysian roads.
