PRIME Minister Srettha Thavisin said Tesla, Inc. is looking at three locations in Thailand to possibly set up a factory for the production of electric vehicles here with a decision to be made early next year, Matichon newspaper said today (Nov. 14).
Speaking at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in San Francisco where he is attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit during Nov. 11, 17, 2023, Srettha said Tesla’s executives told him during his visit to their Texas factory that they will be coming to Thailand to check out factory locations before a decision is made in the first quarter of 2024.
He suggested that they come to Thailand during Nov. 27-28 so as to also enjoy the Yi Peng Lantern Festival in Chiang Mai, with Loy Krathong being held on the night of Nov. 28, as they are promoted as the country’s soft power.
The Tesla Cybertruck, which does not look like any other pickup truck ever produced, is the flagship model of the company’s CEO Elon Musk.
Srettha added that it is made of aluminium and so strong that there were no scratches when hit with a hammer. He stood on the roof of this vehicle together with another person and there were no dents.
Acceleration is 0-100 km/h in 3.20 seconds (or 0-60 mph in 2.90 seconds) which is faster than a Ferrari sports car, he added.
Over a million reservations have been placed for Tesla Cybertruck with Srettha saying the ride was very good and very comfortable.
Srettha also held a meeting with Hewlett-Packard Company (HP) CEO Enrique Lores who enquired about tax and customs benefits as his company is considering moving production base and expansion with an announcement on the latter to be made mid-December.
Lores will be meeting him again soon with good news likely by the end of this month, he added.
He also held talks with ADI which too is interested in setting up a factory in Thailand and got to know their requirements.
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Top and Front Page: Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin viewing and test-driving a Tesla Cybertruck at the company’s factory in Texas yesterday, Nov. 13, 2023. Photos: Matichon
Insert: In this Nov. 21, 2019 file photo, Tesla CEO Elon Musk introduces the Cybertruck at Tesla’s design studio in Hawthorne, California. Credit: AP /Ringo H.W. Chiu
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