Thailand's imports of electric passenger cars more than doubled in September, with shipments from China accounting for almost all imports. The increase coincided with higher demand and the possibility of increased taxes on fully imported electric vehicles (EVs).

Imports rose by 138% year on year to US$ 421 million, with China accounting for almost 99% of the total, according to government data. The value was also 86% higher than in August. During the first nine months of the year, Thailand imported US$ 2.37 billion worth of electric passenger cars, with 96% of imports originating from China.

Thailand is considering higher taxes on imported EVs as part of efforts to increase domestic vehicle production and employment. The country has an established automotive manufacturing industry, and the government aims to encourage local production rather than increase reliance on vehicles imported from China.

The government is considering an excise tax of around 30% on fully imported EVs as part of a revised tax structure intended to support domestic manufacturing. Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas has said that the government is working with automakers to finalise the rate.

A three-tier tax structure, approved in principle by Thailand's EV policy board in September, would impose the highest excise tax on fully imported vehicles, a lower rate on cars assembled locally using imported components, and the lowest rate on EVs with a higher proportion of domestic production and locally sourced content.

The possibility of higher taxes may have influenced the timing of imports. Nantapong Chiralerspong, director-general of the Trade Policy and Strategy Office, said that September's increase reflected demand and the expansion of Chinese EV brands. He added that expectations of the proposed tax changes may have accelerated shipments.

The increase in imports coincided with growth in the domestic EV market. Sales of battery-electric passenger cars rose by 80% year on year in September and nearly doubled during the first nine months of the year, according to the Federation of Thai Industries.

New EV registrations are forecast to reach 200,000-220,000 units this year, compared with the number of units in 2025, according to Surapong Paisitpatnapong, an adviser to the chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries and spokesman for its Automotive Industry Club.