Tesla has made its first deliveries of Model 3 and Model Y electric vehicles in Thailand, marking another step in the company’s expansion in Asia. As electric vehicles gain popularity in China, Tesla has been striving to replicate its success in other Asian nations, including Japan and Taiwan. Tesla announced the first Thai deliveries on Twitter, following thousands of orders that were placed after the company began accepting them in December 2022.
Although Tesla imports the vehicles from Giga Shanghai, Thailand has waived import fees thanks to a free trade agreement with Beijing. However, customers are missing out on a potential EV subsidy from the Thai Government since the vehicles are not manufactured locally.
First Model Y & Model 3 deliveries in Thailand 🇹🇭 https://t.co/8XuvtAkFmg pic.twitter.com/1eUD2tNPhP
— Tesla (@Tesla) February 14, 2023
Tesla has had a small presence in Thailand for a few years, but its vehicles were not available to the public until recently. In 2020, the Thailand National Police Agency added seven Tesla Model 3 Performance units to its fleet. With the popularity of the Model 3 and Model Y, Tesla is poised to capitalize on the growing demand for electric vehicles in Thailand.
See also: Tesla launches two electric vehicle models in Thailand
As Tesla implements its global growth strategy, it may encounter the same challenges in selling in second- or third-world countries. Despite this, Tesla’s entry into the Thai market establishes a foothold that could lead to its becoming a significant automaker in the region. If demand remains high, Tesla will likely expand its service and charging offerings beyond its largest markets.
