Mercedes-Benz should soon be assembling electric vehicles (EVs) in Thailand after it reached an agreement with the government to initially ship in completed vehicles levied reduced import tariffs ahead of local production, according to reports.
The imported EVs would benefit from preferential excise duty until the end of 2023, according to Ekniti Nitithanprapas, director general of the Thai excise department.
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Following a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with the Thai government this month, Mercedes was expected to begin EV assembly in Samut Prakan by the end of next year.
The automaker showed off its EQS 500 luxury battery powered sedan at the Thailand International Motor Expo early in December, joining a growing group of automakers targeting Thai EV sales.
Earlier this month, Tesla started selling its Chinese made Model 3 and Model Y in Thailand with deliveries scheduled to begin at the end of Q1 2023.
BYD and SAIC earlier this year announced plans to produce EVs and hybrids in Thailand to supply ASEAN countries while Great Wall Motors already sells EVs and hybrids in Thailand produced at a plant in Rayong it acquired from General Motors in 2020. Nissan Motor also sells its Thai-assembled Leaf and Kicks e-Power EVs across ASEAN.
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