Japan lowers growth forecast amid auto export slowdown
The downward revision reflected delays in the recovery of automobile exports, impacted by certification-related issues with certain manufacturers.
The largest commercial electric vehicle (EV) operator here is exploring plans to expand its business into the Thai tourist hot spot of Pattaya.
SEV said on Thursday that it will supply at least 1,000 electric cars and no fewer than 1,000 electric scooters to the newly established EV unit of Thai-listed telecom equipment distributor Planet Communications Asia.
Planet EV, as the unit is called, aims to make sustainable transport available at hotels, tourist attractions and the airport in Pattaya in the pilot programme.
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Users will be able to book the vehicles online and return them at designated locations within the city.
The move, which comes at a time when Thailand is upping efforts to promote sustainable tourism, will see the two companies install EV charging points and battery-swop stations in Pattaya.
Planet EV could also sell EVs to commercial users such as taxi and car-rental companies, as well as food delivery platforms.
If the pilot is successful, it could pave the way for SEV to supply more EVs in Thailand and take the home-grown start-up to a new level of growth.
General manager Steven Kwek said: “Working with Planet EV will give us an immediate foothold (in Thailand) as we can leverage its local networks and contacts to make EVs more readily available at tourist spots.”
SEV is an authorised distributor of EVs in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.
It has 45 EV charging points at its Singapore headquarters in Ubi Avenue and a fleet of around 200 BYD e6 electric cars, most of which are leased out to drivers on ride-hailing platforms Gojek and Grab, with expectations of taking delivery of 300 more.
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