Tesla Enters Thai Market with Competitive Prices, BYD Dominates EV Sales in 2020 Chinese Automakers Unveil Flying Vehicle at Motor Show to Compete with Rivals in Thailand . Credit: techxplore.com

Chinese automakers are unveiling their latest models, which includes a flying vehicle, at the Bangkok International Motor Show to compete with global rivals.

BYD, XPeng, and Great Wall Motors are rapidly increasing their sales in Thailand, challenging longstanding leaders like Toyota, Isuzu, and Ford, while also expanding their exports worldwide. With a population of over 600 million people, Thailand is one of the largest markets in Southeast Asia and has prioritized the development of its EV market.

Tesla entered the Thai market in late 2022, offering their popular Model 3 and Model Y at competitive prices compared to other Chinese brands like BYD. BYD, also known as Build Your Dreams, showcased a variety of their EV lineup, including the Dolphin, a pure electric vehicle with a range of 490 kilometers and a price of 859,999 Thai baht ($23,700). At the higher end is the Seal, which boasts a range of 580 kilometers and a price of nearly 1.6 million baht (about $44,000).

In 2020, BYD sold 30,650 EVs in Thailand, followed by Neta, a subsidiary of Chinese automaker Hozon Auto, which sold 12,777 vehicles. Tesla, British brand MG, and Great Wall Motor also had a presence at the show. VinFast, a new player in the Vietnamese market, plans to expand its EV sales to 50 countries by the end of this year and is establishing factories in the U.S., India, and Indonesia.

Neta has announced plans to manufacture EVs in Thailand, and Great Wall Motor has purchased a former General Motors plant in Rayong to aid in its expansion into Southeast Asia. According to market research firm Counterpoint Research, Thailand accounted for 0.5% of global EV sales but had the highest percentage of EV sales in Southeast Asia in 2022, ahead of Vietnam and Indonesia.

Thailand is already a major hub for auto manufacturing, with strong sales of pickups commonly used for taxis, food stalls, and agricultural purposes. The roads are congested with a variety of vehicles, including popular brands such as Toyota, Honda, Isuzu, Ford, Nissan, and Mercedes-Benz, as well as luxury models like Porsche and Maserati. While the country is rapidly expanding its network of charging stations, the majority of vehicles on the roads still run on gasoline, diesel, and LPG.

XPeng, a Chinese start-up based in Guangzhou, is entering an already crowded home market but sees potential in Thailand. Paramee Thingcharoen, the company's chief marketing officer, explains that they are targeting the premium segment with their high-tech products and are confident in their positioning despite competition. At the show, XPeng displayed its AeroHT Voyager X2, a flying concept car that can be flown in China but is only on display in Bangkok as the company does not have a license to fly it in Thailand.

Paramee believes that future mobility is not limited to just vehicles on wheels and envisions a future where people can ride on unicorns. She says, "It's unlimited."

Ann Castro
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Ann Castro carries a total of 7 years experience in the healthcare domain. She owns a Master’s of Medicine Degree. She bagged numerous awards by contributing in the medical field with her ground-breaking notions. Ann has developed her own style of working and known for accuracy in her work. She loves trekking. She visits new places whenever she gets free time.