Thailand's imported electric-passenger-vehicle volume jumped sharply in September, with import value rising 138% year on year to $421 million — almost entirely driven by China, which accounted for about 99% of the total and was up 86% from August, Phoenix Finance reported on October 28, citing Thai government data.
In the first nine months, Thailand's electric-passenger-vehicle imports reached $2.37 billion, with 96% coming from China. On the demand side, September pure-electric passenger sales rose 80% to 16,404 units, and January-September volume hit 161,532 units, nearly doubling; the Federation of Thai Industries expects full-year EV registrations of 200,000-220,000, up from about 120,000 in 2025.
The surge also exposes the driver behind Thailand's policy shift: after decades as Southeast Asia's largest auto-manufacturing hub, Bangkok wants booming EV demand to translate into local production and jobs. Thailand is considering a roughly 30% excise tax on fully imported EVs under a three-tier framework that rewards localization.
The data is the latest footnote to the acceleration of Chinese EV brands into Southeast Asia, even as host markets recalibrate incentives toward local manufacturing.
Source: Phoenix Finance / The Nation Thailand
