Suroj proposes EV tax review and charging station expansion

Matichon•Economy•17h ago

Reader Briefing

Suroj Sangsanit of the Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand calls for infrastructure expansion and tax reviews to support the growing EV market.

•Suroj Sangsanit spoke at a Matichon seminar on August 26 regarding the future of electric vehicles in Thailand.
•Thailand currently accounts for approximately 80% of electric vehicles used in the ASEAN region.
•The Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand suggests reviewing import excise taxes to prevent Thailand from becoming merely a market for cheap imported EVs.

Overview

•Suroj Sangsanit spoke at the "NEW ENERGY FOR THAILAND" seminar organized by Matichon on August 26.
•Thailand has seen cumulative electric vehicle growth to over 500,000 units over the past 10 years.
•Suroj Sangsanit warned that charging infrastructure is not expanding fast enough, with the ratio increasing from 25 vehicles per plug 3 years ago to 45 currently.
•Approximately 50% of charging stations are concentrated in Bangkok and its vicinity.
•Chinese manufacturers are establishing bases in Thailand partly due to trade conflicts between the US and China and tax advantages when exporting to Europe.
•Suroj Sangsanit stated that the Thai industry must urgently develop after-sales services rather than focusing only on vehicle assembly.
•The Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand proposed that the Ministry of Commerce guide entrepreneurs on creating "Thai identity" in production to meet destination country criteria.
•Suroj Sangsanit noted that over 60% of EV sales and registrations in the first 7 months of 2026 were imported vehicles.

Full article content is available on the original source.

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Source: Matichon (Original)

Key Quotes

Suroj Sangsanit

"We try to explain to Chinese entrepreneurs that the Thai market has unique characteristics and must prioritize after-sales service."

เราพยายามอธิบายกับผู้ประกอบการจากจีนว่า ตลาดประเทศไทยมีลักษณะเฉพาะ และต้องให้ความสำคัญกับบริการหลังการขาย

Suroj Sangsanit

"Today we may not have charging problems, but if we do not accelerate the development of charging stations, there will definitely be problems in the future."

วันนี้เราอาจยังไม่มีปัญหาเรื่องการชาร์จ แต่ถ้าไม่เร่งพัฒนาสถานีชาร์จ ในอนาคตจะเกิดปัญหาแน่นอน

Key Entities

Person

Suroj Sangsanit(สุโรจน์ แสงสนิท)

President of the Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand.

Organization

Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand(สมาคมยานยนต์ไฟฟ้าไทย)

An organization founded in 2015 that monitors EV trends and coordinates technology exchange.

Matichon(มติชน)ℹ️

The editorial body that organized the special seminar on new energy.

Ministry of Commerce(กระทรวงพาณิชย์)ℹ️

The government body the Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand asked to advise entrepreneurs on production criteria.

Thonburi Automotive Assembly Plant(ธนบุรีประกอบรถยนต์)

A Thai automotive assembly operator with opportunities to join the EV production chain.

Thai Rung(ไทยรุ่ง)ℹ️

A Thai automotive assembly operator with opportunities to join the EV production chain.

Policy

30@30 Policy(นโยบาย 30@30)

A government policy aimed at promoting Thailand as an EV production base.

Place

Thailand(ประเทศไทย)ℹ️

A country acting as a major EV market and emerging production hub in ASEAN.

Bangkok(กรุงเทพฯ)ℹ️

The city where 50% of Thailand's charging stations are concentrated.