According to a report in the Bangkok Post, BMW (
www.bmw.co.th) is set to expand its local assembly of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) in Thailand, following the granting of ‘investment privileges’ to the company by the country’s Board of Investment (BoI).
The BoI-approved project will see a 700 million baht (about $21 million) expansion of the existing PHEV assembly line at BMW Group Thailand’s facility in Amata City (Rayong province), where the company currently assembles four PHEV models — the 330e, the 530e, the X5 xDrive40e and the 740Le.
BMW Group Thailand president Christian Wiedmann said: “The BoI’s benefits will go towards making finished cars, as well as preparation for battery-pack assembly, which we hope to implement in 2019.”
PHEV batteries are currently imported from Europe.
It comes as no surprise that car manufacturers are ramping up hybrid and PHEV initiatives in Thailand.
In 2017, the BoI approved ‘promotional privileges’ for manufacturers of ‘green’ cars — including hybrids, PHEVs and full electric vehicles — with incentives including tax holidays of five to eight years.