Thailand records 1,348 complaints regarding Chinese electric vehicles

Thai consumer protection agencies have recorded 1,348 complaints regarding Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) between 2024 and 2026. Chinese brands currently hold over 80% of Thailand's pure electric vehicle segment.

Key issues identified include vehicle defects (47.3%), failure to refund deposits (18.2%), and significant price drops following purchase (14.7%). Notably, 52% of all complaints are related to after-sales service. Consumers expressed major concerns regarding the closure of service centers, equipment malfunctions, and a lack of replacement parts.

One specific driver of dissatisfaction was rapid price depreciation. For example, BYD implemented price cuts on models such as the Atto 3 and Seal, reducing costs by up to 340,000 baht, which significantly impacted previous buyers.

In response to these trends, BYD's head of brand and public relations, Li Yunfei, suggested that Chinese automakers should meet certain thresholds before expanding abroad to avoid damaging the collective reputation of Chinese brands through inadequate service and parts supply networks.