Tesla cancels plans to build EV factory in Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia

KUALA LUMPUR: Tesla has reportedly canceled its plans to develop an electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing plant in Thailand and will now focus solely on fast charging stations.

According to a report by The Nation, citing sources at Government House in Thailand, the decision follows the dismissal of the Tesla executive team that visited Thailand in November and December.

“Tesla is currently only discussing charging stations, with plans for the factory suspended not only in Thailand but globally.

“They are not proceeding with plans in Malaysia, Indonesia, or anywhere else except in China, the United States, and Germany,” said the source.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced last November that Tesla was ready to make Thailand an EV manufacturing hub.

The announcement came after he held several meetings with Tesla executives, both in the US and Thailand.

Srettha visited the Tesla Fremont Factory in California during his trip to the US for the 30th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in November, where he met with Tesla executives and posed for photos with the Cybertruck, Tesla’s flagship electric vehicle.

Srettha and Paetongtarn Shinawatra, leader of the ruling Pheu Thai Party, hosted senior Tesla executive Rohan Patel at the Yi Peng festival in Chiang Mai on November 28.

At the same time, he announced that Tesla was exploring three potential factory sites in Thailand and was expected to announce an investment of over $5 billion in the first quarter of this year.

However, Tesla has now decided to cancel its investment plans in Thailand after dissolving its executive team.

This decision is part of Tesla’s broader reduction of investments across Asia and beyond.