Mazda isn’t ignoring the electrified vehicle wave hitting ASEAN. The carmaker announced plans to produce up to 100,000 electrified SUVs in Thailand annually, and to that end, is investing 5-billion Baht (USD 150 million) to make that happen.
“Mazda has a 70-year history in Thailand,” said Mazda president and CEO Masahiro Moro. “Beyond our sales operations and dealer network, we have continuously invested in manufacturing facilities, including the AutoAlliance plant in Rayong established in 1995 and the Mazda Powertrain Manufacturing Thailand facility in Chonburi set up in 2015.”
The new investment is said to focus on a new hybrid B-segment SUV (next-generation CX-30?) that will be offered not just in Thailand, but to ASEAN countries and even global markets, including Japan. Production is scheduled to begin in 2027.
Mazda’s announcement aligns with Thailand’s recent EV industry support measures. Introduced in December 2024, it included the reduction of excise tax for hybrid vehicles, whether full or hybrid.
However, for mild hybrids (MHEVs), the Thai government has put in strict compliance requirements including maximum CO2 emissions of just 120 g/km, a minimum investment requirement of 5 billion Baht, use of locally-produced key components including batteries, and the installation of at least four out of six specified ADAS.
Mazda’s upcoming offering is said to be compliant to all these requirements.
Thailand is currently Southeast Asia’s largest EV market. EV sales are forecast to jump 40 percent there this year, exceeding 100,000 units in total. As a whole, Thailand is expecting the auto industry to sell around 500,000 units in 2025.
While Honda and Nissan are acting like kids, it looks like Mazda is just doing fine...
ReplyDeleteA merger is very complicated. Easy for bystanders to say they act like kids or ego came in the way. Mergers and acquisitions are some of the most complex deals to close.
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