Tesla officially opened the sale of electric cars in Thailand – when will it come to Vietnam?

Tesla has officially received orders for two of its most popular electric car models in Thailand, becoming the latest name to enter the largest electric car market in Southeast Asia, competing with rivals from China.

The US manufacturer will start delivering Model 3 and Model Y cars from the first quarter of next year, according to Yvonne Chan – Director of Tesla Thailand. The company will also open its first service factory in Thailand around the same time, and the first super-fast charging station will be operational in February. At least about 10 such charging stations will be opened in Bangkok next year, according to Mr. Chan. .

The move to enter the Thai market – the second market in Southeast Asia after Singapore – comes as the electric vehicle segment here is heating up with a “competition” between Chinese manufacturers such as Great Wall Motor, BYD or Hozon.

Tesla Model 3 is sold from 1.76 million baht (1.2 billion) while Model Y is from 1.96 million baht 1.35 billion. There were a lot of potential Tesla customers at Siam Paragon shopping center on December 7 to see the cars in person and ask prices for these cars.

“Buying a Tesla means buying their ecosystem,” said Nonnalin Thugsoonthorn, a strategic investor in Bangkok. She wants to replace her internal combustion engine car with a Model 3. “I am very pleased with the price and quality.”

Tesla’s electric cars will have to compete with models from China, such as Great Wall Motor’s Ora Good Cat model, which costs from 763,000 baht (VND 523 million) and receives some tax incentives from the Thai government. Lan.

Mr. Chan said nothing about his plans to open a factory in Thailand – Southeast Asia’s largest auto manufacturing hub. BYD, meanwhile, has chosen the country to open its first overseas factory. The company plans to start production here from 2024, mainly for export to Southeast Asian countries and Europe. BYD also entered the Thai electric vehicle market last month.

Thailand, long known as an automotive powerhouse, has a complete supply chain for factories, mainly owned by Japanese companies for the production of combustion engine vehicles. in. However, the government of this country has set a target that 30% of total vehicle production in 2030 must be electric and plans to spend 43 billion baht (more than $ 1.2 billion) by 2025 to realize it. that goal.

Meanwhile, according to many domestic experts, it may take a long time for Tesla to enter the Vietnamese market. Currently, in addition to VinFast, which is a domestic car manufacturer that actively launches new electric vehicle models as well as completes the charging station system, some foreign car manufacturers are still quite cautious when it comes to plans to bring new electric vehicles. tram to Vietnam.

The number of privately imported Tesla electric cars present in Vietnam at this time is only counted on the fingers. Most of these cars are expensive and rarely seen on the street.