The Thailand Automotive Insitute (TAI) expects to further fuel the growth of Thailand's electric vehicle industry by providing EV manufactures with a test track, which will become a new source of revenue for the country.
The test track in Chachoengsao, which is currently under construction, would provide EV manufacturers with a variety of testing services, allowing them to carry out tests on brake and parking brake performance, speed and distance tests, battery tests, along with a skidpad.
"The government expects it to generate 1 billion baht in revenue a year for the country," said Kriengsak Wongpromrat, president of the TAI, an agency under the Industry Ministry.
This test centre will help EV manufacturers save between 30-50% on testing costs as it would be more expensive to carry out the tests abroad, he said.
"The facility will contribute to the economy and help the government attain its goal of making Thailand a regional EV hub," said Mr Kriengsak.
The government aims to have battery EVs make up 30% of total car manufacturing by 2030, with the production of 725,000 zero-emission cars, 675,000 electric motorcycles and 34,000 electric buses and trucks.
Around 60% of the construction of the test track, located within the Automotive and Tyre Testing, Research and Innovation Center (ATTRIC) in Sanam Chai Khet district, has now been completed, allowing the TAI to provide some services to manufacturers.
"More than 10 car companies used our services," said Mr Kriengsak, adding that some services, including the speed test, are still being developed.
The test track represents the second-phase of the ATTRIC development. It is scheduled to be completed and formally open its doors in 2026.
The cabinet approved the construction of ATTRIC, which covers an area of more than 1,200 rai, under a 3.6-billion-baht budget in 2016. Some 2.03 billion baht has already been spent on building the main facilities while the remainder has been allocated for the second-phase of the development.
Mr Kriengsak said the TAI plans to join hands with academic experts to further develop the test track over the long term.
ATTRIC is sited in a prime location because Chachoengsao is located within the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).
Parts of the province, along with Chon Buri and Rayong, form the EEC zone, which will be transformed into Thailand's high-tech industrial hub, hosting 12 targeted S-curve industries, one of which is the production of new-generation cars.