Thai-Chinese joint venture SAIC Motor-CP, the manufacturer and distributor of MG cars, plans to spend 2.5 billion baht developing a factory to produce batteries for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and start making BEVs domestically next year. "The EV industry is growing faster as new Chinese automakers launch more EVs to meet global demand," he said. SAIC, or Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation, has invested 10 billion baht in Thailand since 2013. The government is promoting the EV industry as part of its plan to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and cope with harmful levels of PM2.5 ultra-fine dust emitted from ageing oil-powered cars. The National EV Policy Committee announced in March last year a goal to have EVs constitute 50% of locally made vehicles by 2030, part of a plan to make the country a regional EV production hub.

Source: Bangkok Post January 19, 2022 02:42 UTC