Thailand’s EV Ambitions Rise with Policy Push and Chinese OEM Dominance

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May 27, 2025
  • Chinese EV makers dominate Thailand's EV market, capturing 74% share in 2024.
  • Government incentives like EV3.5 and the “30@30” policy are driving investment and positioning Thailand as a regional EV hub.
  • Thailand’s strong supply chain and strategic location are attracting battery and EV manufacturers, reinforcing its role in the global EV ecosystem.


According to Counterpoint Global Passenger Electric Vehicle Model Sales 2024 tracker, Thailand was the largest EV market in Southeast Asia (SEA) region but electric vehicle (EV) sales in the country declined by 11% year-on-year in 2024. Thailand’s automotive sector declined in 2024 as stricter loan disbursement, driven by rising household debt and growing non-performing loans, reduced consumer vehicle purchases. Despite challenging market conditions, the Thai government has remained steadfast in its commitment to the EV transition, introducing initiatives such as the “30@30” policy and the EV3.5 incentive plan to accelerate electric vehicle adoption in the country.

With the increasing demand for EVs, the long-standing dominance of Japanese automakers has waned due to their slow shift toward electric mobility, creating opportunities for Chinese EV manufacturers to establish a strong foothold in the market. Offering competitive prices, advanced features, and strong value, Chinese EVs have quickly earned the trust of Thai consumers. As a result, Chinese OEMs in 2024 dominated nearly three-fourth of the Thai EV market. Leading players include BYD Auto, Deepal, MG, Neta, and Aion. The presence of Chinese manufacturers in Thailand expanded significantly, with the number of active OEMs doubling from 9 in 2023 to 18 in 2024. New entrants such as Avatr, Deepal, Changan, Omoda, and Zeekr have begun selling their EVs in the Thai market.

Column graph depicting Thailand EV sales share by country of brand origin. Source: Counterpoint Global Passenger Electric Vehicle Model Salestracker, 2024 EVs include BEVs and PHEVs.

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Summary

Published

May 27, 2025

Author

Abhik Mukherjee

Abhik Mukherjee is an automotive market analyst and consultant, specializing in the evaluation and assessment of leading automakers’ performance, financial metrics, and strategic approaches. Leveraging his extensive expertise in automotive trend analysis, he delivers in-depth insights, strategic analysis and industry forecasts. Before joining Counterpoint, Abhik served as an academic research analyst and holds both an M.Phil and a Master’s degree in Economics.