Office of Industrial Economics targets to promote plug-in hybrids

BANGKOK, April 13 (TNA) -- Thailand may start its mass production of plug-in hybrid cars in three years if the government approves promotional privileges, said Siriruj Chulakaratana, director-general of the Office of Industrial Economics (OIE). He said that plug-in cars would be necessary in the future to protect the environment and cope with energy issues. His office would propose promotional privileges for their production to the government in two months. The privileges would cover the production of such cars, their parts and lithium batteries. He believed that with a nod from the government, the annual production of about 100,000 plug-in hybrid cars would start in three years. About five existing car makers in Thailand were interested in the investment and their spending on such projects should reach 20 billion baht each, Mr Siriruj said. He also said that plug-in hybrids produced in Thailand would be bigger than eco cars. They would be medium-sized ones and bigger, and priced over 1 million baht each, he said. Some European car maker started to produce plug-in hybrids in Thailand and Japanese manufacturers were keen to compete, Mr Siriruj said. (TNA)