Thailand is doing what Malaysia should have done ages ago for its automotive industry. It’s official that the Thai automotive ministry is working quickly to make electric vehicle (EV) adoption a priority for their fast-growing automotive market.
Meanwhile, Malaysian automotive policymakers are signing document after document and lots of MoU’s with no clear roadmap and this will continue to stifle the EV movement which is struggling to see a light at the end of the tunnel.
Even Geely is hesitant to introduce their EV brand, Lynk & Co in Malaysia or its electric car, the Geometry which got its first showing last year in April in Singapore for a price of S$150,000 before COE.
It would seem like Thailand has recognised the importance of zero-emissions for personal transportation and is currently taking a bold leap within its South East Asian peers to embrace EV production.
Already, reports from Thailand’s Ministry of Industry claim to aim for an increase in EV production by 30% of total car production over 10 years.
Speaking at the “New Generation of Automobiles” seminar a few days ago, Industry Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit elaborated on the goals of the Thai EV industry’s development plan.
He said that in the short term, Thailand aims to produce more than 60,000 to 110,000 EVs, which will include cars, bikes, taxis and buses.
Medium-term targets meanwhile were the production of 300,000 EVs, with the final goal being to produce 750,000 EVs by 2030.
The lofty goals set by Bangkok is backed up by various incentives that will encourage wider EV adoption in the Land of Smiles.
These include various tax incentives to encourage buyers to exchange their current internal combustion-engine cars for new clean EVs.
A Bangkok Post report also indicates that a 100,000 baht (RM13,300) trade-in coupon scheme is currently in discussion within the Thai cabinet in an attempt to revitalise the Thai auto industry that has been hit hard due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The report states that this trade-in coupon will be valid for all cars including EVs and will run for five years.
This ambitious goal set by the Thai government in regard to this green initiative should be commended, as contrary to what dyed in the wool petrol heads might say, EVs seem for the moment at least, to be the future of cars.
That being said, from an Asean perspective, the question remains as to why Malaysia is failing to lead the charge in EV development, and doesn’t even have the barest framework to what Bangkok has announced.
Considering Malaysia is the only Asean nation until very recently to have their national automotive marques, shouldn’t Malaysia be at the forefront of this EV charge in the region?
Some might say Malaysia doesn’t have the infrastructure needed to support mass EV adoption.
Some will also point out that the cost of EVs currently sold in Malaysia is way out of the reach of the average Malaysian.
These reasons however can easily be addressed with sufficient competent governmental initiatives, in collaboration with both the country’s national carmakers.
While the government still toys around with the idea of adding a third national automaker, Malaysia’s neighbour up north has launched a concrete automotive policy for the way forward in what is a rapidly growing industry.
It begs the question as to where Malaysia has gone wrong in its National Automotive Policy.
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