According to a press release from Nissan Motor Thailand, a memorandum of understanding between the two companies underlines their commitment to work together to ensure EV (electric vehicle) customers have easy access to usage and service manuals for charging systems, technical skills training, and public charging stations.

“The PEA utilises digital technology to envision that EV cars will continue to increase in popularity in the coming years. It has developed the PEA VOLTA Platform to support the EV charging-station network across Thailand,” PEA governor Sompong Preeprem said.

“We have a master plan to support charging stations nationwide, covering all provinces, as well as offering highly trained and experienced staff who can provide expert advice for home charging installation to power EVs. We will provide full support in readying the power system for EV usage in Thailand,” he said.

PEA ENCOM International, a PEA subsidiary, will be responsible for the installation of wiring electrical cables and power supplies from switchboards to industrial sockets, for Nissan EV customers, Sompong added.

Ramesh Narasimhan, president of Nissan Motor Thailand, said the agreement with the PEA demonstrated the continued partnerships between Nissan, the government, state enterprise and the private sector to support Thailand’s electrification road map.

It also represents another example of how Nissan is bringing its EV global leadership to Thailand.

He also emphasised the importance of building this EV ecosystem for Nissan LEAF customers across the Kingdom.

“We recently started delivering the all-new Nissan LEAF to our customers in Thailand, and 20 per cent of those were upcountry. This reinforces how important this deal with the PEA is, to ensure all our customers have access to a robust and trustworthy charging infrastructure,” Narasimhan said.

The GLC 220 is ideal for families that enjoy four-door diesel SUVs with an exciting exterior profile and a spacious cabin. The vehicle also boasts of low emission and excellent fuel consumption at 5.91 litres for every 100 kilometres.

The GLC 220 d4Matic goes for Bt3.04 million, and can be checked out at any of the 33 authorised dealers nationwide, said Frank Steinacher, vice president of sales and marketing for Mercedez-Benz (Thailand).

While the majority of auto brands have not yet launched full EVs (electric vehicles) in the Thai market, most offering just hybrids so far, smaller brands seems to be quicker in this department.

Hyundai, Kia and Nissan now offer EVs in Thailand, but all are imported, while locally produced EVs still look like golf carts in disguise.

Meanwhile, sports car maker MG will be the next brand to offer an EV model in Thailand, with the ZS EV crossover to be officially launched in Bangkok on June 20. Retail pricing will be announced then, but many are expecting it to cost around Bt1.5 million.

Like other EVs sold here, the ZS EV is also imported (from China), although MG has a plant at the Hemaraj Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate in Chon Buri province that churns out right-hand-drive petrol-burning MGs for the Asia-Pacific market.

MG has been highly successful in Thailand in the past two years. Last year it sold over 23,000 vehicles and now has a five-year aggregate of 50,000 units. While top sellers include the MG3 and ZS, the ZS EV is expected to help boost sales further by attracting customers looking for an EV with more affordable pricing. The Nissan LEAF, for example, retails at around Bt2 million.

MG, owned by SAIC Motors of China, first showed the ZS EV concept at the Guangzhou Auto Show last November, and the crossover made its way to the Bangkok International Motor Show in late march.

According to MG, the ZS EV gets its power from a 44.5kWh water-cooled battery with rapid charging capability (0-80 per cent in 43 minutes). Normal charging from a 7kWh wall unit takes 6.5 hours (0-100 per cent).

Maximum output is claimed at 150 horsepower, and MG claims a range of as much as 428 kilometres (down to 335km according to the NEDC standard). This means that the MG ZS does not have to be charged daily, which is a plus for user convenience. Another plus is that the interior space has not been affected by the electrification process.

Although Thai specifications had not been released by press time, customers can expect similar packages offered in other markets such as the UK and China.

The exterior features LED daytime running lights, a roof rack and 17-inch alloy wheels. Inside, there’s a six-way powered driver’s seat, 40/60 split rear seats and multi-function steering wheel. The large sliding panoramic sunroof helps give the cabin an airy atmosphere.

Safety features, apart from the regular ABS brakes and six airbags, include blind spot detection, autonomous emergency braking, pedestrian alert control, lane-keeping assist and adaptive cruise control.

The MG ZS is targeted at the younger generation (aka “Fast Forward” generation) so much importance has been given to connectivity.

There is an eight-inch colour touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth and navigation. And, of course, Thailand customers can expect the i-SMART Thai language voice command system and mobile application.

Meanwhile, MG has also been preparing charging stations for customers by teaming up with Energy Absolute PCL to jointly develop an EV charging network across the country.

Also expect the larger MG crossover, the GS, to come in 2020 with electrification in the form of a PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) with a short EV range.

MG ZS EV specs

Electric motor: Permanent magnet synchronous

Max power: 150ps (110kW)

Max torque: 350Nm

Transmission: EDU

0-100: 9.0 secs

Top speed: 150km/h

Steering: powered rack and pinion

Brakes (f/r): vented disc/disc

Dimensions (mm)

Length: 4,314

Width: 1,809

Height: 1,625

Wheelbase: 2,585mm

Wheels: 17-inch alloy

Tyres: 215/50 R17

Price: to be announced

Distributor: MG Sales (Thailand) Co Ltd

The Honda BR-V features a new front grille, projector headlights with LED position lights, LED daytime running lights, newly designed fog lights, and sporty alloy wheels with a brand-new design.

The new model also comes in a new Passion Red Pearl colour, and is available with a three-row, seven-seat or a two-row, five-seat cabin configuration with adjustable functionality to meet any lifestyle requirement.

It is powered by a 1.5-litre i-VTEC engine that is compatible with E85 fuel and delivers 117 horsepower, plus a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) developed under Honda’s Earth Dreams Technology.

The new Honda BR-V also offers many standard safety features to ensure safe driving under all conditions.

In conjunction with the introduction of the new BR-V, Honda also introduced the “Trade-up to a new Honda BR-V” campaign and a special “Double Smile” campaign for every new Honda BR-V purchase.

The new Honda BR-V is available in two variants: the SV variant, which is priced at Bt835,000, and the V variant, priced at Bt765,000.

Porsche has been highly successful in the global market, including Thailand, with its Cayenne SUV model.

While many may have wondered why on earth a famous sportscar manufacturer like Porsche would build an SUV with five seats, the strategy did what it was designed to do when the first Cayenne was launched two decades ago. The model introduced Porsche to a new market and was able to open up a much larger group of buyers, generating huge profits for the company.

In Thailand today the Cayenne is probably the most popular Porsche – you can see them every day on our roads. The German sportscar brand has become a household name for those who want a luxury SUV fit for the family (which is definitely more likely to get a spouse’s approval than a two-seater sports car like the 911).

Now in its third generation, the Cayenne offers a sportier look much improved over the standard version. Porsche calls it the Cayenne Coupe – it still has five doors, though, and competes against similar models from Audi (the Cayenne shares the same platform as the Q8), BMW (the X6 was the first model of this sort) and Mercedes-Benz (GLE).

To my eyes and those of many others, the Cayenne Coupe looks spectacular, boasting a more dynamic design as well as improved driving dynamics, along with a bunch of updated features compared to the standard model.

To begin with, the Cayenne Coupe’s sportier design comes from a steeper roofline and shallower windscreen/A-pillar. Porsche says that the roof edge has been lowered by 20 millimetres while the redesigned rear doors and wings broaden the shoulder of the vehicle by 18mm, giving it a muscular appearance.

Apart from the fixed roof spoiler, there is also an additional adaptive rear spoiler that pops up at 90km/h and above to increase the downforce on the rear axle. A huge panoramic fixed-glass roof is standard, but a contoured carbon roof (21kg lighter) like the 911 GT3 RS can be ordered along with the Lightweight package.

The lightweight and sport packages feature glossy black, carbon (or vehicle colour) exterior parts such as air intakes, wheel arch mouldings, side skirts and a rear apron. Inside, you get classic checkered fabric for the seat centres, Alcantara roof lining and steering wheel.

The interior is similar to the standard Cayenne and comes with a large number of features you’d expect from a premium manufacturer, including Burmester or BOSE sound systems.

The front seats are comfortable and allow for long journeys without back pain, but given the grip offered by the suspension, more side support would be welcome.

Customers can specify whether they want the individual two-seat layout or regular three-seat layout at the rear, plus lots of upholstery choices. The rear seats can be folded to increase luggage space from 625 litres to 1,540 litres (a foot-activated comfort access is offered).

The dashboard features a rev counter in the middle and 7-inch full HD screens on each side, while above the centre console is a 12.3-inch full HD touchscreen that offers tablet features.

Despite the lower roof height, the seats in the Cayenne Coupe are 30mm lower than the standard model, so there is still plenty of headroom, although rear passengers will feel somewhat limited for headroom due to the design (which also happens with the BMW X6 or Mercedes GLE). In general, there is no problem regarding space – in fact the Coupe is longer than the standard model, although it doesn’t appear as bulky thanks to the clever design. However this is not an SUV you want to use for maximum loading capacity, but rather for style and performance.

The Cayenne is available with three engine choices ranging from a 340hp turbocharged V6 for the Cayenne, 440hp V6 twin turbo for the Cayenne S (newly developed) and the 550hp V8 twin turbo for the Cayenne Turbo.

While the standard Cayenne Coupe does 0-100km/h in six seconds, the S cuts it down to five seconds while the Turbo does it in 3.9 seconds (which sounds more like a 911’s performance). Top speeds are claimed at 243km/h, 263km/h and 286km/h.

I had a chance to drive all three during a media event in Austria last week, and although there weren’t any autobahns to get the speed up, the winding roads offered an opportunity for the Cayenne Coupe to display its roadholding prowess.

Despite its size, the Cayenne Coupe gets through tight corners with more authority and speed than regular large SUVs. The steering is the sharpest in class and despite the 2-tonne body weight, the Cayenne Coupe glides through corners like a much lighter vehicle, with minimal body roll.

There are loads of drive programmes to fiddle with, including off-road, even though the Cayenne Coupe doesn’t look like a vehicle you want to get dirty in at all. Maybe some light off-roading perhaps, but nothing serious that could scratch the beautiful paint! With the country roads we were driving on, I didn’t even bother using sport modes. There was plenty of power on tap, especially with the Turbo, which breathes fire and is ridiculously fast.

Personally I was never a fan of the Cayenne, which is bulky, fuel-thirsty and totally fills up the road. But the Coupe version somehow takes away that spell with its dynamic profile and performance – because it still feels like a sports car. Unfortunately, pricing will be higher than for the Cayenne when it is officially launched here later this year, but at this price range, people are willing to spend more to get what suits them best.

Porsche Cayenne Coupe specs

Displacement: 2,995cc

Bore and stroke: 84.5×89.0

Compression ratio: 11.2:1

Max power: 340ps/5,300-6,400rpm

Max torque: 450Nm/1,340-5,300rpm

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

Ratios: 5.00/3.20/2.14/1.72/1.31/1.00/0.82/0.64

Final drive ratio: 3.21

0-100kmh: 6.0 secs

Top speed: 243km/h

Average fuel economy: 10.6km/litre

Average CO2: 212-215g/km

Suspension (f/r): multi-link/multi-link

Steering: powered rack-and-pinion

Turning circle: 12.1 metres

Brakes (f/r): vented disc/vented disc

Dimensions (mm)

Length: 4,931

Width: 1,983

Height: 1,676

Wheelbase: 2,895

Track (f/r): 1,674/1,671

Weight: 2,030kg

Wheels: 20-inch alloys

Tyres: 275/45 ZR20 (front)/305/40 ZR 20 (rear)

Fuel tank capacity: 75 litres

Distributor: AAS Auto Service Co Ltd (Porsche Thailand)

They are equipped with a new 13.5 kWh Li-ion battery with 111 per cent increase in capacity compared to the previous battery generation. It takes one hour and 50 minutes to recharge from 10 per cent of battery capacity to full via a Mercedes wall box charger.

Mercedes-Benz (Thailand) Ltd president Roland Folger said by 2030, half of Mercedes global car sales will be made up of PHEVs and BEVs (Battery Electric Vehicles).

He said: “This year, we will continue crystallising and integrating concepts of advanced mobility and eco-friendly lifestyles into our products and services.

“In terms of products, we want to reiterate our reputation as a pathfinder in electric vehicle innovations as we continue to offer our customers performance and luxury from Mercedes-Benz, while at the same time, significantly reducing carbon dioxide emissions per vehicle.”

Speaking at a seminar on “Electric Vehicles: Technology that changes the world” held on Friday by Krungthep Turakij newspaper, experts from both the public and private sectors urged the government to build trust among Thai customers towards using electric vehicles as individual buyers are quite concerned about their viability due to higher prices compared to fuel and gas vehicles.

The installation of electric vehicle charging stations should be expanded to allow drivers of electric vehicles greater convenience in finding power sources on the road.

Chatri Limpongsai, executive director at the Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI), said that the BOI operated as a government agency under the Office of the Prime Minister. Its responsibility is to provide tax incentives and facilitation by granting tax and non-tax incentives to individual manufacturers in order to stimulate investments.

“Automobile is one of the business sectors we are focusing on to offer investment privileges,” said Chatri.

He added that the BOI had started offering investment privileges for electric vehicles since 2017 in keeping with the government’s policy to promote S-curve businesses as a strategic move to raise the economic level of Thailand.

Since 2017, five hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) projects have been submitted to the BOI for investment privileges and four projects had already been approved. Eight plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) projects also have been submitted to the BOI and four of them have already been approved.

About 20 battery electric vehicle (BEV) projects have been submitted to the BOI and one has been approved. About 11 electric vehicle battery projects have been submitted to the BOI of which 10 have been approved. Eight electric vehicle charging station projects have been submitted to the BOI and one has been approved.

Chatri said that these projects would have to start commercial operations within three years of being approved by the BOI.

Nattakorn Uthensut, director of the Tax Planning Office at the Excise Department, said that the number of electric vehicles had increased significantly in many countries around the world.

“There are more than two million electric vehicles and more than 100,000 charging stations in China today, and about 1.3 million in Europe,” he said, adding that there will be two types of charging for electric vehicles – quick charging and slow charging. Quick charging will take only half an hour, while slow charging will take up to six hours.

Nattakorn said the growth of demand for electric vehicles was in line with environmental concerns of many communities around the world and the urgent need to find an appropriate solution to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, a major cause of the global warming problem.

“In the US, they give US$7,500 subsidy for every new electric vehicle purchased for use in the country. In European countries, they have provided a subsidy package of up to between Bt200,000 and Bt300,000 on average to individual buyers to boost electric vehicle sales,” Nattakorn.

He said the starting prices of electric vehicles, however, are quite high in Thailand – at between Bt1 million and Bt2 million – compared to between Bt600,000 and Bt700,000 each for gasoline vehicles on average.

Nattakorn said that in Thailand, the Excise Department has provided tax incentives to manufacturers of electric vehicles. They will enjoy excise tax at as low as 2 per cent, and excise tax will be zero for those who can begin manufacturing operations between 2020 and 2022. The measure runs from 2018 to 2025.

He added that manufacturers who wish to claim the excise tax incentive, however, need to have the BOI promotional privileges. They are required to use batteries assembled or produced locally, within five years.

Nattakorn said that the current prices of EV batteries are between Bt200,000 and Bt300,000 on average and they have about a seven-year lifetime.

“The key problem for the development of the electric vehicle industry in Thailand is the small number of charging stations. We also have a problem of battery localisation. The cost of EV batteries is quite high. To support the government policy to make Thailand a hub for manufacturing electric vehicles in the region, having a good battery management system is quite significant,” he said.

“Another problem is consumer confidence, especially the difficulty in finding charging locations, the charging period, as well as the high battery prices. The prices of electric cars must be lower than today,” said Nattakorn.

Buiding investor confidence

Nattakorn said that to build confidence among investors, the government’s policy and investment direction towards electric vehicles must be clear. They should grant non-tariff measures along with tariff measures to promote electric vehicles.

Vitcha Chakornpipat, research and development director at the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA), said that the MEA has been using electric vehicles at its operations since 2011.

“We are the organisation with the highest number of electric vehicles in Thailand,” he said, adding that the MEA today has about 16 battery electric vehicles as well as 10 electric vehicle charging stations for testing.

“We have conducted a technical study on those electric vehicles and the possibility of them driving in real situation, as well as safety issues,” said Vitcha. “We found that the electric vehicles being tested at MEA had no problem over the past seven to eight years. The expense on electricity per kilometre is cheaper than fuel of any brand, and cheaper than gas in some models,” he noted.

Vitcha said that the only problem is that there is no central standard at the moment for the instalment of charging stations.

“We [MEA] try to promote a central standard for the instalment of chargers in the market. Within the next year, we plan to expand quick-charging stations for electric vehicles to all 18 areas for which the MEA is responsible,” he said, adding that the MEA had also launched an MEA EV application to help EV drivers find the nearest charging station. There are currently more than 1,000 charging stations for electric vehicles being installed by the private sector.

“I myself will be driving an electric vehicle if the price were affordable,” said Vitcha.

Dusit Anantarak, acting expert on guidance and warning for the industrial sector, the Office of Industrial Economics, said that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had told the United Nations climate-change summit in Paris that the Thai government was committed to achieving its target of lowering greenhouse gas emissions by between 20 and 25 per cent by 2030.

“In the car manufacturing industry in Thailand, as much as 50 per cent of the manufacturing capacity is targeted for exports. So, vehicle manufacturing should be in line with the global trend, which is sustainable mobility,” he said.

Dusit said that the BOI has started giving promotional privileges for electric vehicles since May 2017 and nine car manufacturers had already received such privileges. Two of them have already manufactured and distributed hybrid electric vehicles.

“There are currently about 370 models of vehicles with internal combustion engine in Thailand, and these vehicles release a high amount of CO2. However, there are only 40 models for hybrid electric vehicles, 48 models under BOI’s eco-car 1 project and another 27 models under eco-car 2. There are also 33 models for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and one model for battery electric vehicle,” he said.

“This is a major challenge on how to make all the vehicles manufactured and distributed in Thailand to be zero-emission,” added Dusit.

“We believe that there will be about 20,000 units of electric vehicle being distributed into the market this year, which will account for about 4 per cent of the total passenger car market,” he noted, adding that it will be in line with the global trend of electric vehicles making up about 48 per cent of the total vehicle market by 2030. Dusit said that vehicle manufacturers in Thailand should be able to transform their eco-car facilities to electric vehicles.

“The government should promote the manufacturing of core-technology parts and encourage consumers to access electric vehicles at affordable prices. The development of electric vehicles, especially battery and plug-in hybrid vehicles, will help the country to promote its electricity development network as well,” he said.

Yossapong Laoonual, president of Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand (EVAT), said that the excise tax charged for eco-car manufacturers is at 12 per cent currently. However, the excise tax has been reduced to only 2 per cent for electric vehicles. It is also quite encouraging for manufacturers to transfer their production facilities from eco- to electric vehicles.

He said that Thailand should be an important manufacturing base for electric vehicles, as the government’s incentive policy is quite encouraging.

“We would like to have a turnkey research and development on electric vehicle technology in the country so that Thailand can be a hub for manufacturing and exporting of electric vehicles to potential markets around the world,” he said.

Yossapong said that Thailand’s electric vehicle market grew by nearly two times to more than 10,000 units last year. There are nine different models of electric vehicles for selling in Thailand this year. He said that the electric vehicles should not be limited to only passenger cars but also other vehicles, such as electric scooters, electric buses, and tuk tuks.