German president visits Mercedes-Benz factory
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Thursday visited the Mercedes-Benz factory in Samut Prakan province to mark its production milestone of 200,000 vehicles in Thailand.
Steinmeier received a warm welcome from Mercedes-Benz (Thailand) executives and representatives from the government sector and business partners.
The unveiling of the 200,000th car, a Mercedes-Benz EQS, marks a significant moment in Thailand’s automotive industry as it was the company’s first electric vehicle model assembled in the country.
The German president and his spouse are on an official visit to Thailand as guests of the Thai government between January 24 and 26.
Steinmeier and Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin earlier discussed ways to enhance cooperation in trade and investment, EVs, the circular economy and the environment, semi-conductors, railways and vocational education.
Mercedes-Benz is among the European automakers which have set up a production base in Thailand. The company has collaborated with Thonburi Automotive Assembly Plant in Mueang Samut Prakan district on the local assembly of 13 car models over the past 46 years.
Thailand was ranked 16th in the Global Electric Mobility Readiness Index last year. Norway topped the index in the transition towards the EV era, followed by China, Germany, Singapore and the UK.
To further boost the automotive industry and maintain its position in the region, Thailand has initiated the “30@30” policy to push the production of EVs to 30% of the total output by 2030.
The development of the Thai EV industry is currently in Phase 2 (2023-2025). The aim is to produce 225,000 cars and pick-up trucks, 360,000 motorcycles, and 18,000 buses/trucks by 2025, including the production of batteries.
