Hyundai to invest one billion baht in Thailand for EV assembly, batteries

SOUTH Korean automaker Hyundai Motor Company will invest one billion baht (S$37 million) to set up a facility to assemble electric vehicles (EVs) and batteries in Thailand, the country’s Board of Investment (BOI) said on Wednesday (Aug 7).

Thailand’s booming EV sector is currently dominated by Chinese carmakers, including BYD and Great Wall Motors, which are using the country as a manufacturing base for exporting vehicles across South-east Asia.

The Hyundai factory, to be located just southeast of the capital Bangkok, will start production in 2026, according to a BOI statement.

“Thailand’s strong existing supply chain will allow Hyundai to source not less than a third of the raw materials and parts it needs from within Thailand, thus supporting the local industry,” said BOI secretary-general Narit Therdsteerasukdi.

EV sales are surging across South-east Asia, led by BYD, eating into the internal combustion engine car market dominated by Japanese and South Korean firms.

Thailand, the region’s biggest auto manufacturing hub, accounted for 55 per cent of all South-east Asia’s EV sales in the first quarter, according to data from Counterpoint Research. REUTERS