Tesla CEO Elon Musk met with the Prime Minister of Thailand, Srettha Thavisin, in New York City. Thavisin confirmed the meeting, indicating that topics such as Tesla, SpaceX, and Starlink were discussed.
On the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), Thavisin stated, "I met with Musk and his team while in New York attending the United Nations Assembly. We had a pleasant conversation about Tesla, SpaceX, and Starlink technologies. The progress they've made for humanity deeply impresses me. We share a vision for a cleaner future world. We look forward to further discussions and anticipate more inspiring successes in electric vehicles and space exploration - not just for Thailand, but for the global community."
Last year, Tesla launched the Model 3 and Model Y in Thailand, and its pre-orders saw rapid growth. The cars Tesla sells in Thailand are produced at the Shanghai Gigafactory, a major contributor to Tesla's vehicle output.
In February of this year, Tesla made its first batch of electric vehicle deliveries in Thailand, marking the brand's further expansion in the Asian market. In fact, as early as the beginning of 2020, Thailand began using the Model 3 for its National Police Force and continues to lease this fleet.
Tesla has been in discussions with several countries about building a new car factory, but Thailand doesn't seem to be among the nations involved in these discussions. Moreover, Musk maintains good relations with many world leaders, striving to make the Earth more sustainable.
In Southeast Asia, electric vehicles are becoming increasingly popular, and their adoption continues to grow. According to a recent Reuters report, electric vehicles accounted for 6.4% of passenger car sales in Southeast Asia in the second quarter of 2023, up from 3.8% in the first quarter.
Thailand alone represents approximately 50% of electric vehicle sales in Southeast Asia, with Vietnam and Indonesia following closely. Furthermore, BYD is currently the most popular electric vehicle manufacturer in the Southeast Asian region.
