EVme Plus Co, an electric vehicle (EV) solutions provider under oil and gas conglomerate PTT Plc, plans to benefit from the increasing popularity of EVs in Thailand by working with a Chinese EV manufacturer to encourage taxi drivers to use battery-powered vehicles.
The company joined hands with Aion Automobile Sales (Thailand) to market the Aion ES model of EV for use as a taxi.
The car's suggested retail price is 929,900 baht.
Aion Automobile Sales (Thailand) is a subsidiary of Guangzhou Automobile Corporation, the second-largest seller of EVs in China.
"The electric taxi market in Thailand has potential to grow," said Suvicha Sudchai, chief executive and managing director of EVme Plus.
It's a new market and we see a business opportunity."
He said the company is in talks with many taxi cooperatives that operate services regarding battery-run taxis.
Mr Suvicha said he expects to conclude the talks soon.
Electric taxis would not only be a new trend in the transport sector, but they can also help Thailand reduce carbon dioxide emissions, playing a part in the country's efforts to combat climate change.
EVme Plus also plans to sell and lease EVs to companies that wish to replace their oil-powered vehicles with EVs.
In the electric motorcycle segment, the company is cooperating with Iso Mobility, an Italian manufacturer, to sell its electric motorcycles in Thailand.
"We expect to receive a good response to the Iso brand of motorcycles, providing a boost to the Thai EV industry and supporting the government's plan to make Thailand a regional EV hub," said Mr Suvicha.
Ferruccio Lamborghini, chairman of Iso Mobility, said the company is expanding its electric motorcycle business to Asean for the first time and decided to choose Thailand because of the rapid growth in its EV market.
"We expect to sell around 100 Iso motorcycles during the 2023 Thailand International Motor Expo," he said.
The car event, which started on Nov 30, continues through Dec 11.