Thailand rolls out measures to promote EV development

Thailand is pressing ahead with efforts to develop its electric vehicle (EV) industry, aiming to become a fully integrated manufacturing hub for EVs and key components in the ASEAN region.

The initiative supports national goals of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2065.

Under the “30@30” policy, the country aims for zero-emission vehicles to make up at least 30% of total passenger car and pickup truck output - about 725,000 units - by 2030, alongside 675,000 electric motorcycles.

The National Electric Vehicle Policy Committee (EV Board), chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira, recently reviewed progress on promotional measures.

According to the Board of Investment (BOI), from its launch to June 2025, investment incentives have been granted for 169 projects worth THB 137.7 billion ($4.2 billion), covering EV manufacturing, batteries, components, charging stations, and battery-swapping facilities.

These include 21 battery electric vehicle projects with combined investment of THB 41.077 billion and annual capacity of 386,000 units, and 16 electric motorcycle projects worth THB 990 million with capacity of 810,000 units. Three projects for electric buses and trucks have been approved, representing 4,835 units annually and THB 2.2 billion in investment.

Battery production attracts the largest share, with 53 projects valued at over THB80 billion. This comprises 27 projects for EV batteries with total capacity of 23,876 MWh and 26 for other industries with 50,402 MWh.

Additionally, 42 projects focus on key components such as traction motors, battery management systems, drive control units, chargers, converters, inverters, harnesses, cooling systems, air-conditioning systems, and EV charging equipment, totaling THB 6.521 billion.

Charging infrastructure is expanding through 29 projects worth THB5.562 billion, providing 20,080 charging dispensers, including 7,360 quick chargers.

On the demand side, the government’s EV promotion policies, including subsidies and excise tax cuts under the EV3 and EV3.5 schemes, have boosted the domestic market. As of June, 29 brands had registered for benefits covering 209,623 vehicles. The Excise Department has disbursed THB11.3 billion for 93,774 vehicles under EV3.

According to the Automotive Institute, by July 2025, Thailand had about 218,510 registered electric cars and 74,411 electric motorcycles.