Automakers from China, Japan and other countries are using the Bangkok International Auto Show, which opens on Wednesday and runs until April 5, to promote electric vehicles in Thailand as consumers increasingly abandon models with internal combustion engines due to rising oil prices and fears of fuel shortages related to tensions with Iran., Nikkei reports.
Local distributor Geely noted that demand for electric vehicles has increased dramatically in recent weeks, with orders for the new compact EX2 increasing from 900 in January to almost 2,000 in March as customers seek to avoid skyrocketing fuel costs and possible supply disruptions. To meet this demand, it is Chinese brands that offer electric vehicles priced between 600,000 and 800,000 baht, well below expectations of around 1 million baht, with SAIC's MG launching the S5 EV Plus priced at 619,900 baht.
Japanese automakers are also paying more attention to electric vehicles than before: Toyota introduced the bZ4X electric SUV, and Mazda introduced the Mazda 6e electric sedan, while emphasizing that they are responding to consumer demand rather than abandoning cars with internal combustion engines altogether.
