China’s fourth global EV research center, the China Automotive Technology Research Center (CATARC), was established following a flurry of investment in Thailand by Chinese EV and battery manufacturers.
CATARC will focus on EV policy formulation, standard setting and certification, Industry Ministry Permanent Secretary Natapol Rangsitpol said on Wednesday.
The partnership will also link China’s sophisticated EV industry, the world’s largest, with Thailand’s domestic industry and infrastructure, supporting Thailand’s mission to become a global EV manufacturing hub, Natapol said in a statement. Ta.
Thailand’s EV3.0 (2022-2023) promotion has attracted 10 automaker brands on the production side and attracted over 50,000 EV reservations on the retail side. The new EV3.5 measures will strengthen Thailand’s ambitions to become a global electric vehicle hub by 2027.
On the infrastructure front, the country has established more than 150 standards for EVs and provides testing and certification services through the Automotive Testing, Research and Innovation Center (ATTRIC). The infrastructure push also focuses on developing the workforce and preparing for the transition to electric vehicles.
According to the ministry, Thailand accounted for approximately 78% of EV usage across ASEAN in the first quarter of this year.
Thailand also led ASEAN in EV production last year with approximately 72,000 EVs produced.
Major Chinese EV and battery manufacturers investing in Thailand as manufacturing bases include BYD, Changan Automobile, GSC Aion New Energy Automobile, and Svolt Energy Technology.
Thailand aims to increase production of zero-emission vehicles to 30% of total car production, or 725,000 vehicles, by 2030.