Finance Ministry Panel to Review EV Subsidy Package for Pickups, Motorcycles
A Finance Ministry committee will meet on November 13 to review two major energy transition subsidy programs worth over 12 billion baht combined. The schemes include a pickup truck replacement program offering 40,000 baht per vehicle for 150,000 owners, and an electric motorcycle subsidy of 10,000-20,000 baht for 400,000 units. Both aim to accelerate Thailand's shift to cleaner transport.
Finance Ministry Permanent Secretary Lawan Sangsanit disclosed that on November 13, a screening committee will meet to review new projects seeking funding from the remaining 1.3 trillion baht energy transition loan budget. The projects have already passed a sub-committee chaired by former Energy Ministry Permanent Secretary Kulit Sombatsiri. If approved, they will go to the Cabinet for final endorsement.
Sources from the Finance Ministry revealed the main projects expected to be reviewed include a pickup truck replacement scheme proposed by the Comptroller General's Department, requesting over 6,000 million baht in loans. The scheme would provide a 40,000 baht subsidy per new pickup truck to Thai nationals aged 20 and older, targeting 150,000 vehicles with a limit of one per person. The private sector and related agencies would contribute additional discounts to reduce down payments and monthly installments.
Another project is the electric motorcycle transition program, or "Motorcycle Per Person Plus" (Double Plus EV Motorcycle), with a 6,800 million baht budget. It aims to subsidize 10,000-20,000 baht per domestically produced electric motorcycle for 400,000 units nationwide, distributed through manufacturers as discounts or down payments to reduce fossil fuel consumption and accelerate the shift from internal combustion engine motorcycles to electric ones.
