Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers are revealing their latest models, including a flying car, as they vie with global competitors at the Bangkok International Motor Show.
Companies like BYD, XPeng, and Great Wall Motors are rapidly expanding their sales in Thailand, challenging established market leaders such as Toyota, Isuzu, and Ford while broadening exports worldwide.
Thailand, a significant market in Southeast Asia with a population exceeding 600 million, has prioritized the development of its EV market.
Tesla entered the market in late 2022, offering its popular Model 3 and Model Y at competitive prices against rivals like China’s BYD.
BYD showcased its diverse EV lineup, featuring the Dolphin, a pure EV boasting a range of 490 kilometers (approximately 300 miles) on a single charge, priced at 859,999 Thai baht ($23,700).
At the higher end, the Seal promises a range of 580 kilometers (about 360 miles) on a charge, with a price tag of nearly 1.6 million baht (about $44,000).
BYD dominated EV sales in Thailand last year, followed by Neta, a brand of Hozon Auto, a Chinese EV manufacturer based in Zhejiang province. They were trailed by Tesla, British brand MG, and Chinese automaker Great Wall Motor.
Also making waves at the show is VinFast, a Vietnamese newcomer aiming to expand EV sales to 50 countries by year-end, with plans for factories in the U.S., India, and Indonesia.
Neta plans to commence EV assembly in Thailand, while Great Wall Motor acquired a former General Motors plant in Rayong, south of Bangkok, to spearhead its expansion into Southeast Asia.
Although Thailand’s EV market represented just 0.5% of global EV sales, it accounted for nearly 60% of EV sales in Southeast Asia in 2022, outpacing Vietnam and Indonesia, according to Counterpoint Research.
While the charging station network is expanding rapidly, gasoline, diesel, and LPG-fueled vehicles remain dominant.
XPeng, a Guangzhou-based startup, is entering an already saturated market in China but remains optimistic about opportunities. Displaying its XPeng AeroHT Voyager X2, a flying concept car, XPeng envisions a future of mobility beyond conventional wheels, with ambitions for aerial transportation.
