From gas to green: Isuzu wants to invest $6.62 bn in Thailand to produce electric D-MAX Pickup 

Isuzu Motors, a prominent Japanese automaker, is set to produce an electric version of its D-MAX pickup truck in Thailand. The company’s decision marks a strategic move to utilise Thailand as a production hub for EVs, with plans to commence exports as early as next year, according to a statement by a Thai government spokesperson, Chai Wacharonke.

Isuzu Motors intends to channel approximately 1 trillion yen ($6.62 billion) into research and development by 2030, including investments in a testing center. The electric D-MAX will be exported from Thailand starting in 2025, targeting markets such as Norway, Britain, Australia, and others, Chai added.

The unveiling of Isuzu’s first electric D-MAX pickup truck is scheduled to take place at the Bangkok International Motor Show next week, as stated on the company’s website. Despite Reuters‘ request for comment on its investment plans in Thailand, Isuzu Motors has not yet responded.

The move towards EV production in Thailand is part of a broader trend among automakers, primarily led by Chinese brands, who are actively establishing EV facilities in Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy. Thailand has traditionally been a key auto assembly and export hub, dominated by Japanese brands like Toyota Motors and Honda Motor Co.

Chinese automakers, including BYD and Great Wall Motor, have already invested $1.4 billion in Thailand to set up production facilities. In a similar vein, German automaker BMW recently initiated the construction of a high-voltage battery production facility in Thailand’s Rayong province, with plans to establish an EV assembly plant by 2025.

To accelerate the shift towards EV production, Thailand is offering various incentives, tax breaks, and other measures. The country aims to convert 30% of its annual production of 2.5 million vehicles into EVs by 2030, signalling its commitment to embracing the future of sustainable mobility.