Thailand Wants More Electric Cars with Tax Help and Old Car Trade-In

Apr 25, 2026, 00:35

Introduction

The Ministry of Transport has a plan. It wants 300,000 more electric cars (EVs) on Thai roads. The plan gives tax help and a trade-in program. Deputy Transport Minister Siripong Angkasakulkiat talked about this after meetings.

Main Body

First, the government will make the trade-in program bigger. Now, buses and taxis can also trade in their old cars. This helps them buy new electric cars. They will spend less money on fuel. The air will be cleaner. Second, the government wants to cut the yearly car tax for EVs and hybrid cars. People can pay 80% less tax. Or they can pay no tax for some time. This helps drivers save money and buy cleaner cars. The government is checking how much money this will cost. They are working with the Ministry of Finance. Then they will give the plan to the cabinet. If the cabinet says yes, the new rules will start in June. The government also had a program to help diesel cars. That program ended yesterday. It helped 55,217 transport operators and 206,529 cars. Taxis that use petrol got 5,040 baht each. They had to drive at least 2,500 kilometers in 42 days. The government checked this with an app.

Conclusion

The new plan is still under study. If it starts in June, it will give big help to car owners and taxi drivers. They can change to electric cars. This will make the air cleaner.

Vocabulary Learning

fuel (n.)
something that makes cars go / something like petrol or diesel used to power vehicles燃料
Example:Electric cars spend less money on fuel.
plan (n.)
idea or scheme / a set of actions to do something計劃；方案
Example:The government has a plan to help people buy electric cars.
program (n.)
scheme or plan / an organized set of activities計劃；項目
Example:The trade-in program helps people buy new cars.
save (v.)
keep money / to keep money instead of spending it節省；儲蓄
Example:This helps drivers save money.
tax (n.)
money paid to government / money you pay to the government稅款；稅
Example:The government wants to cut the yearly car tax.

Sentence Learning

First, the government will make the trade-in program bigger.
Time Marker: 'First' shows the order of steps. It tells us this is the first action.「First」表示步驟的順序，告訴我們這是第一個行動。
Now, buses and taxis can also trade in their old cars.
Time Marker: 'Now' means at this present time. It shows a change from before.「Now」表示現在這個時間，顯示與之前的變化。
Or they can pay no tax for some time.
Connector: 'Or' gives a choice between two options: pay less tax or pay no tax.「Or」提供兩個選項之間的選擇：繳較少的稅或不用繳稅。
If the cabinet says yes, the new rules will start in June.
Conditional: 'If' introduces a condition. The new rules depend on the cabinet's decision.「If」引導一個條件。新規則取決於內閣的決定。
The government checked this with an app.
Prepositional Phrase: 'with an app' tells us the tool used to check.「with an app」告訴我們用來檢查的工具。