Bangkok - German automotive giant BMW AG has asked Thailand to consider granting it special tax incentives to manufacture electric cars in the kingdom, media reports said Wednesday.
BMW's chief of government affairs Thomas Becker raised the issue of special tax incentives with Industry Minister Chaiwuti Bannawat on his visit to the company's Munich headquarters, the
Bangkok Post reported.
"I will discuss this issue with the ministries of finance and energy, as well as the Board of Investment," Chaiwuti told the paper. "Hopefully, we can come up with something to update BMW when I come to Germany again late this year."
Thailand currently offers reduced excise
taxes and other incentives on the local manufacture of eco-cars, fuel-efficient cars with 1500 cc engines or less.
Japan's Nissan has already begun production of its eco-car model, the March, and
Toyota Motor Co, Honda Motor Co, Mitsubishi Motors Corp and
Suzuki Motor Corp plan to launch similar models in the near future for both the domestic and export markets.
BMW is interested in producing its Mini E, either in Thailand or China, for the Asian market.
The German auto giant has already invested 45.5 millin dollars in a
factory in Rayong, Thailand, to assemble and manufacture 7-Series and X3 SUVs for the South-East Asian market.
