Siriphong eyes EV 3.5 rule change for Thai parts after Tesla talks

MGR Online•Economy•7d ago

Reader Briefing

Deputy Transport Minister Siriphong Angkasakulkiat discussed EV technology and part imports with Tesla to potentially revise EV 3.5 policy conditions.

•Siriphong Angkasakulkiat met with Tesla (Thailand) on August 6, 2026.
•Tesla reports importing billions of baht worth of tires and batteries from Thailand annually for its Chinese factories.
•Siriphong Angkasakulkiat plans to propose the EV Board to allow EV 3.5 benefits for vehicles using significant Thai parts even without local assembly plants.
•The Ministry of Transport is drafting a law to reduce annual taxes for EV and hybrid cars by 80% for another 3 years.

Overview

•On August 6, 2026, Siriphong Angkasakulkiat met with Hadri Haris from Tesla (Thailand) Company Limited.
•Tesla does not have a production plant in Thailand, with existing factories in the USA, China, and Germany.
•Tesla imports parts and spare parts from Thailand for its Chinese plant worth several billion baht per year, expected to grow to tens of billions.
•Siriphong Angkasakulkiat intends to collect data on the value of Thai parts per Tesla vehicle to present to the National Electric Vehicle Policy Committee (EV Board).
•Allowing the use of Thai parts as a condition for EV 3.5 instead of only local assembly is intended to increase opportunities for the Thai auto parts industry.
•The Ministry of Transport is currently listening to opinions on a draft royal decree to reduce annual taxes by 80% for EV and Hybrid (HEV) vehicles for 3 years.
•Tesla noted that AI Level 2 autonomous driving may not yet be applicable in Thailand due to driving behaviors and the high volume of motorcycles.
•The Ministry of Transport will collaborate with Tesla engineers to exchange knowledge on EV inspection and tools to develop Department of Land Transport personnel.

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Key Quotes

Siriphong Angkasakulkiat

"If EV cars that do not have factories in Thailand but use a significant amount of Thai parts, they should be considered for the project as it will increase opportunities for the Thai auto parts industry."

หากรถ EV ที่ไม่มีโรงงานผลิตในประเทศไทย แต่ใช้ชิ้นส่วนจากประเทศไทยจำนวนมากในระดับที่มีนัยสำคัญ ควรรับพิจารณาร่วมโครงการ เพราะจะเป็นการเพิ่มโอกาสให้กับอุตสาหกรรมชิ้นส่วนยานยนต์ของไทย

Key Entities

Person

Siriphong Angkasakulkiat(สิริพงศ์ อังคสกุลเกียรติ)

Deputy Minister of Transport who is discussing EV policy updates and tax reductions.

Hadri Haris

Lead Public Affairs (SEA Region) of Tesla (Thailand) Company Limited.

Organization

Tesla (Thailand) Company Limited(บริษัท เทสลา (ประเทศไทย) จำกัด)

An electric vehicle company that imports Thai parts for its global production.

Ministry of Transport(กระทรวงคมนาคม)ℹ️

The government ministry promoting EV adoption and drafting tax reduction laws.

National Electric Vehicle Policy Committee(คณะกรรมการนโยบายยานยนต์ไฟฟ้าแห่งชาติ)

Also known as the EV Board, the body that considers conditions for the EV 3.5 project.

Department of Land Transport(ขบ.)

The agency whose personnel will be trained in EV inspection standards.

Policy

EV 3.5

The second phase of electric vehicle support measures spanning 2024 - 2027.

Law

Draft Royal Decree on Annual Tax Reduction for Electric and Hybrid Vehicles(ร่างพระราชกฤษฎีกาลดภาษีประจำปีสำหรับรถที่ขับเคลื่อนด้วยพลังงานไฟฟ้า พ.ศ. .... และรถไฮบริด (HEV))

Proposed legislation to reduce annual taxes by 80% for 3 years for EV and hybrid cars.

Place

Thailand(ประเทศไทย)ℹ️

The country focusing on developing its EV industry and part supply chain.

USA(อเมริกา)ℹ️

A country where Tesla has a production factory.

China(จีน)ℹ️

A country where Tesla has a factory that imports parts from Thailand.

Germany(เยอรมัน)ℹ️

A country where Tesla has a production factory.