The Thai market for commercial vehicles over 2 tons gvw is estimated to have plunged by a further 22% year-on-year to 50,516 units in the second quarter of 2024, having fallen by close to 37% to 64,567 units in the same period of last year.

The plant is managed by the company’s local subsidiary, Yuchai Power System (Thailand) Company Ltd, based in Samut Prakan just outside Bangkok.

The company said the Thai plant would be used to supply markets across South-east Asia, Middle East as well as Latin America, replacing the existing C&E Series models.

Sales for commercial vehicles over 2 tons gvw in East Asia’s seven main markets, excluding China, continued to decline in the second quarter of 2024.

Incentives include tax exemptions of between two and eight years, financial support and streamlined regulations (with other nations).

This marked an important milestone in the electric pickup truck manufacturer’s global expansion, with the Thai subsidiary to serve as a hub for the company’s expansion into other markets in South-east Asia. Radar also launched its Riddara brand in Thailand.

The Thai commercial vehicle market over 2 tons gvw plunged by 42% to 54,398 units in the first quarter of 2024 from an already weak 93,107 units a year earlier.

The market for commercial vehicles over 2 tons gvw in East Asia’s seven main markets, excluding China, continued to deteriorate in the first quarter of 2024 - with sales falling sharply by more than 28% year-on-year to 268,053 units.

The plan is to start mass production of a battery-powered version of the Hilux pickup truck for Thailand and for export.

The tests are being carried out using BYD’s B70 bus by the company’s local distributor, Rever Automotive Thailand Company Ltd, picking up and dropping off passengers at shopping malls and tourist attractions across Bangkok.

Rêver Automotive Thailand Company Ltd is the name of the Thai importer and distributor BYD vehicles, which will now be responsible for assembling the vehicles through a subsidiary at a facitlity near Bangkok.

Isuzu Motors Ltd, headquartered in Yokohama in Japan’s Kanagawa prefecture, unveiled its first battery-powered D-Max one-ton pickup truck at the Bangkok International Motor Show in April