- Thailand is leading other Southeast Asian countries in providing incentives for consumers and investors to boost its domestic electric vehicle industry.
- Malaysia is dealing with Chinese manufacturers to speed up the adoption of battery-only electric cars.
- Nissan has the best chance of a successful battery-only EV debut in the region.
Not wanting to miss out on the next transport technology revolution, Southeast Asian policymakers are racing to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles as a step to becoming a regional manufacturing hub.
Indonesia, the largest car market in the region, has announced a plan to ban sales of petrol and diesel cars by 2040. President Joko Widodo's cabinet is drafting a policy that would reduce the luxury tax and import tariffs on EVs, from the current average of 50 per cent to 5 per cent as early as next year. These exemptions will only apply to manufacturers with long-term plans to produce EVs in the country.
