Thailand to increase tax on EV imports, official says
A Mazda 6e electric vehicle (EV) car on display at the 47th Bangkok International Motor Show 2026, in Bangkok, Thailand, on Mar 24, 2026. (Photo: REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha)
Read a summary of this article on FAST.
Get bite-sized news via a new
cards interface. Give it a try.
Click here to return to FAST
Tap here to return to FAST
FAST
BANGKOK: Thailand’s electric vehicle board has agreed to increase excise tax on EV imports to promote investment in domestic auto manufacturing, a finance official said on Thursday (Sep 10).
Fully imported vehicles (CBUs) will face the highest tax rate, above the current 10 per cent excise tax, Pornchai Thiraveja said.
A lower tax rate will apply to vehicles imported for testing purposes and to those imported for local assembly or production, according to Pornchai.
Vehicles manufactured in Thailand with the use of local content will be subject to the lowest tax rate, he said.
Guess Word
Crack the word, one row at a time
Buzzword
Create words using the given letters
Mini Sudoku
Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser
Mini Crossword
Small grid, big challenge
Word Search
Spot as many words as you can
A grace period will give automakers time to adapt to the new tax regime, but its duration has yet to be determined.
A tax rate would be decided by the end of the month, Finance Ministry Permanent Secretary Lavaron Sangsnit said.
Electric and hybrid vehicles accounted for 55 per cent of new cars in the first seven months of 2026, making it the first time combined registrations of EVs, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid vehicles outpaced those of internal combustion engine vehicles, according to the Board of Investment.
“The transition of Thailand’s automotive sector must convert rapid consumer demand into long-term capital formation, localised technology, and quality employment,” Narit Therdsteerasukdi, head of the BOI, said.
Cumulative BOI approvals in the electric vehicle ecosystem reached US$4.59 billion across 189 projects as of August 2026.
Thailand is a major regional production and export hub for car manufacturers, such as BYD and Toyota Motor.
Source: Reuters/ec
Sign up for our newsletters
Get the CNA app
Stay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best stories
Get WhatsApp alerts
Join our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat app
Get bite-sized news via a new
cards interface. Give it a try.
Click here to return to FAST
Tap here to return to FAST
FAST
