Cabinet agreed on 3 November to raise excise tax on imported battery-electric cars from 10% to 35% from 1 January 2027.
The stated aim is fair treatment for carmakers that have built factories in Thailand and employ local workers. Excise Department director-general Pornchai Thiraveja said the department will open talks with interested investors on special rates for new investment, and that several have shown interest.
The decision follows National Electric Vehicle Policy Committee resolutions of 25 November 2025 and 10 September 2026. Reports of the Cabinet meeting in Udon Thani do not say when the new rate will be published in the Royal Gazette, or how “local parts” will be measured.
