Competition Competition for investment in the electric vehicle manufacturing sector in Southeast Asia is getting tighter, after the Thai government stated that Tesla plans to discuss investment in the country.
Thai Industry Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit said that his party would soon meet with Tesla Inc, based in California, United States, to discuss investments in electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids in Thailand.
As reported by the Bangkok Post, the US ambassador and businessmen from the US-Asean Business Council have also reportedly met with Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha to discuss their business prospects in the Land of the White Elephant.
Tesla executives said they would continue their investment plans in Thailand and called on the government to maintain momentum in tourism stimulus projects and reduce travel restrictions to help the economy recover.
Tesla is also looking to invest in Indonesia
On the other hand, Tesla is also reportedly in talks with the Indonesian government to build a nickel factory. This is in line with Indonesia’s ambition to become the largest lithium battery producer.
President Joko Widodo also showed the government’s seriousness in establishing a battery factory, who in mid-November said that he would send a delegation to the United States to meet with Tesla executives.
“This is very important because we have big plans to make Indonesia the largest producer of lithium batteries and we have the largest nickel [reserves],” Jokowi said in an interview with Reuters.
The Director General of Metal, Machinery, Transportation Equipment and Electronics at the Ministry of Industry, Taufiek Bawazier, stated that Tesla’s presence is expected to support the acceleration of the development of electric cars in Indonesia. “We hope that Tesla will enter Batang, Central Java, he said interested,” he said.
Taufiek also stated that the government is trying to realize the construction of an electric battery factory in the country, so that electric car component manufacturers or original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) emerge.
So far, only Hyundai has committed to developing electric cars in Indonesia. This commitment is manifested in the construction of a factory on an area of 77.6 hectares in Kota Deltamas, Cikarang, Bekasi Regency, with an investment value of US $ 1.55 billion until 2030.
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