FTI urges government support for pickup trucks amid EV import surge

Matichon•Economy•1d ago

Reader Briefing

The Federation of Thai Industries urges the government to support domestic pickup truck production and adjust taxes to be fair to locally made vehicles.

•Surapong Paisitpattanapong of the Federation of Thai Industries proposed that the government encourage consumers to buy more pickup trucks to support the real sector.
•Domestic pickup truck sales have decreased by over 60%, dropping from over 30,000 units per month to just over 10,000 units.
•EV imports accounted for 62.58% of EV sales in the first 7 months of the year, while domestic production was only 37.42% of sales.
•The Federation of Thai Industries supports the government's consideration of an 'old car for new car' exchange program.

Overview

•Surapong Paisitpattanapong stated on August 25, 2026, that pickup trucks use over 90% domestic parts and their decline impacts the entire supply chain.
•In the first 7 months of the year, total car sales were 406,162 units, with 125,411 being electric vehicles, an increase of 97.39%.
•The decline in pickup truck sales is attributed to strict lending criteria from financial institutions and low domestic economic growth.
•In July 2026, domestic car sales totaled 59,196 units, with BEVs accounting for 35.46% of the total sales.
•Surapong Paisitpattanapong warned that some part manufacturers have had to close businesses or move investments to other countries due to production drops.
•The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) previously proposed a government fund to guarantee financial institution losses on seized vehicles, up to 50,000 baht per unit.
•Suwat Supakarndechakul stated that the Federation of Thai Industries is awaiting government consideration on the details of the 'old car for new car' program.
•Suwat Supakarndechakul emphasized the need to protect domestic industry through taxes and government support against competitors with production advantages.

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Source: Matichon (Original)

Key Quotes

Surapong Paisitpattanapong

"Pickup trucks are Thailand's product champion, moved from production bases in Japan to produce in Thailand decades ago, exporting to over 120 countries and for domestic sale."

รถกระบะเป็นโปรดักแชมเปี้ยนของไทย ย้ายจากฐานผลิตในญี่ปุ่นมาผลิตในไทยเมื่อหลายสิบปีก่อน ส่งออกไปกว่า 120 ประเทศและเพื่อขายในประเทศ

Key Entities

Person

Surapong Paisitpattanapong(สุรพงษ์ ไพสิฐพัฒนพงษ์)

Advisor to the Chairman of the Automotive Industry Group and Spokesperson for the Automotive Industry Group of the Federation of Thai Industries.

Ekniti Nitithanprapas(เอกนิติ นิติทัณฑ์ประภาศ)ℹ️

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance who assigned the Excise Department to consider an old car for new car project.

Suwat Supakarndechakul(สุวัชร์ ศุภกาญจน์เดชากุล)

Vice Chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries and Chairman of the Automotive Industry Group.

Organization

Federation of Thai Industries(สภาอุตสาหกรรมแห่งประเทศไทย)ℹ️

An organization whose automotive industry group is proposing government support for domestic vehicle production.

Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking(กกร.)

A committee that proposed a government fund to guarantee losses for financial institutions on seized pickup trucks.

Excise Department(กรมสรรพสามิต)ℹ️

The government agency tasked with considering the 'old car for new car' project.