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Noriko Sakamoto

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Noriko Sakamoto joined Baker McKenzie in 2008. She is active in the Mergers & Acquisitions Practice Group and Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare Industry Group. She also actively assists Japanese clients as a core member of the Japan Advisory Group.

On 25 May 2023, the Notification of the Ministry of Finance on Duty Exemption for Parts of Electric Vehicle or Battery-powered Electric Boats was published in the Royal Gazette. This Notification is to further promote the domestic production of electric vehicles (EV) in Thailand as well as to develop and strengthen the domestic EV supply chain. The Notification became effective on 26 May 2023.

Amidst the increased focus globally on respecting and protecting human rights, in a recent seminar organized in Thailand, the special advisor to the Prime Minister of Japan responsible for international human rights matters announced the adoption of the Guidelines on Respect for Human Rights in Responsible Supply Chains by the Government of Japan.

From 2026, pure battery electric vehicles (BEVs) must be equipped with certain levels of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS); otherwise, excise tax rates will be higher. The Royal Gazette has published several notifications of the Excise Department regarding BEVs recently. The Notifications have introduced the ADAS requirements as a new condition to apply lower excise tax rates on BEVs along with detailed requirements on the use of domestically manufactured batteries.

The year 2022 marks a noteworthy year for a quantum leap in Thailand’s electric vehicle market. Against the backdrop of Thailand’s commitment to carbon neutrality and net-zero greenhouse gas emissions at COP26, combined with the unexpected uncertainty in oil and gas prices, Thailand’s EV market has accelerated to a new peak. Providing that the 30@30 goal under the national EV roadmap (i.e., to raise the proportion of zero-emission EVs to 30% of all domestic vehicle production by 2030) goes as planned, we take a look at what to expect in Thailand’s EV space, along with what has been happening during the first half of 2022.

Following years of market domination by the conventional automobile industry, EV technology is now emerging as an environment-friendlier alternative, opening up various new opportunities for businesses as well as consumers all around the world. EV development permeates the whole chain of the present automotive industry, from the manufacturing and distribution sectors to subscription and ride-sharing or ride-hailing businesses. To operate an EV business in Thailand, there are certain legal concerns you need to take into account.

Amidst the surging interest in environmental, social and governance considerations, the Ministry of Industry has revised the obligations under its notification on certain factory operators in monitoring and reporting air pollution data. The aim of this notification is to bring up to date the current requirements, extend the coverage of applicability and help improve the availability of emission data to the public.

The ecosystem of the electric vehicle (EV) market is huge and requires significant investment. While the market forecast is bright, many existing players are still waiting for the right time to invest, not to mention new players considering entering into this emerging market. One of the key drivers to activate the consumers’ buying motivation, the primary factor for advancement of the EV market to the next stage, involves financial incentives.

Among the major elements of CASE, the “E” (Electrification) is the most discussed element to date. Electric vehicles (EVs) are expected to have the largest market impact on the automotive industry in the near future as well as contribute to the transformation in the structure of the global automotive supply chain.