{
  "id": 1410065,
  "title": "Home-grown factories could gain edge in levy shake-up",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/home-grown-factories-could-gain-edge-in-levy-shake-up",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-17T03:06:48.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Thaiger",
    "slug": "the-thaiger",
    "url": "https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/economy/thailand-auto-excise-tax-overhaul-domestic-production"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Thailand is considering rewriting its car tax system to give a competitive edge to domestic factories. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas announced the plan, aiming to lower excise rates for vehicles built in Thailand while increasing them for fully imported models. \"This would kill several birds with one stone by supporting domestic production,\" Nitithanprapas said. The move is expected to be completed by September 2026, with the new rates taking effect by the end of the year. The change can be implemented through a ministerial regulation, bypassing the need for a parliamentary vote. Eligible vehicles include petrol and diesel cars, plug-in hybrids, and battery electric vehicles, provided they are built in Thailand using locally sourced materials and parts. No revenue projections have been released yet. This development comes amid Indonesia's efforts to lure Toyota away from Thailand with a large investment from Hyundai. Thailand has long been the region's car manufacturing hub, and the loss of an assembly facility of this scale could impact supplier jobs. Finance Ministry permanent secretary Lavaron Sangsnit and excise department director-general Pornchai Theeravet have been tasked with drafting the new structure.",
  "summary": "Thailand plans to rewrite the way it taxes cars, as excise rates are expected to fall for vehicles built in the country and rise for fully imported models from carmakers with no factory here. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas announced the plan and told senior officials to work out the details. “This … The story Home-grown factories could gain edge in levy shake-up…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}