On February 13th, Thailand's Headline News Agency reported that Masahiro Moro, President and CEO of Mazda Motor Corporation, visited Thai Prime Minister Petantan and announced an additional investment of 50 million Thai baht in Thailand. The plan is to turn Thailand into a major production base for B-SUV mild hybrid electric vehicles (MHEV), producing 100000 MHEV models annually and exporting them globally.
This investment expansion stems from the "Measures to Support the Transition of the Electric Vehicle Industry" approved by the National Electric Vehicle Policy Committee (EV Committee) led by the Prime Minister in December 2024, which includes reducing the consumption tax rates for hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) and mild hybrid electric vehicles (MHEV) to 6% -9% and 10% -12%, respectively. This tax policy will continue until 2026 to 2032. At the same time, the Investment Promotion Committee has also introduced investment measures to promote the upgrading of the automotive industry, with special incentives provided to all car manufacturers that adopt automation, robotics, and modern technologies in production.
Nali said, "Mazda's investment expansion further enhances our confidence in Thailand's potential and demonstrates the government's determination to promote the transition of environmentally friendly new technologies, ensuring the sustainable development of the automotive industry and parts supply chain. We are committed to making Thailand the center of future regional automotive production and export
Masahiro Moro stated that Mazda has a history of over 70 years in Thailand, and in addition to its sales company and dealer network, Mazda has also been continuously investing in the construction of production bases in Thailand. In 1995, Mazda established the AutoAlliance (AAT) factory in Rayong to produce passenger and commercial vehicles; In 2015, Mazda Powertrain Manufacturing Thailand (MPMT) factory was established in Chumphon province, producing engines and automatic transmissions. These factories laid the foundation for Thailand to become a hub for Mazda's automotive and parts production and export.
Masahiro Moro further stated that Mazda's new investment of 50 million Thai baht aims to support Thailand as a hub for the electric vehicle (xEV) industry and promote Thailand as a production base for B-SUV models. These vehicles will be powered by electric assistance, featuring energy conservation, pollution reduction, and compliance with international safety standards. It is expected to produce 100000 vehicles annually and sell them to domestic and global markets such as Japan and ASEAN. This investment will cover the assembly of automobiles and the production of key components, including engines, transmissions, and batteries. We plan to start production in 2030 to meet the growing demand for new energy vehicles. In addition, Mazda will strengthen the construction of its domestic component manufacturer network to help it adapt to new technologies. This marks Mazda's significant investment expansion in Thailand, committed to promoting the sustained development and economic growth of the Thai automotive industry.
via Thailand Headlines
