On 19 October, the BOI approved a THB 1.49 billion investment by Toyota to produce hydrogen fuel cell pickups in Chachoengsao Province, with annual capacity of 3,000 units and production starting in December 2027; the next day, the Cabinet approved two draft Ministerial Regulations requiring EV traction batteries to meet Thai Industrial Standards, taking effect 180 days after publication in the Royal Gazette.
Toyota: Thailand's First Hydrogen Fuel Cell Pickup Line
According to BOI press release No. 183/2569, the project review subcommittee authorized by the Board of Investment approved an expansion by Toyota Motor Thailand Co., Ltd. to produce a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) version of the New Hilux at its Ban Pho (บ้านโพธิ์) plant in Chachoengsao Province. The project involves an investment of THB 1.49 billion (about RMB 330 million) and annual capacity of 3,000 units, with production expected to start in December 2027. Initial output will be entirely exported, mainly to Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
The project extends the existing Hilux line, adding assembly stations for key components such as hydrogen tanks, fuel cells, battery packs, motors and power control units, and plans to build a hydrogen refueling station at the plant for production and testing. The project will purchase about THB 640 million a year of local raw materials and parts, including air conditioning and cooling systems, seats, wheels and tires, wire harnesses and interior parts, and will transfer know-how in production, quality control, safety, environmental and human resource management to local suppliers.
The press release states that Toyota has operated in Thailand for 64 years, with cumulative investment of more than THB 200 billion, three vehicle assembly plants, annual capacity of more than 770,000 units and more than 13,000 direct employees. As of September 2026, the BOI had approved a cumulative 203 EV-related projects with total investment of more than THB 141 billion, covering hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, as well as batteries, key components and supporting infrastructure.
Cabinet: EV Traction Batteries Must Meet Mandatory Standards
At its meeting on 20 October, the Cabinet approved two draft Ministerial Regulations proposed by the Ministry of Industry:
Non-lead-acid rechargeable energy storage systems used in battery electric vehicles of categories M and N (passenger and goods vehicles with four or more wheels) must meet the safety requirements of Thai Industrial Standard TIS 3026-2563 Part 2;
Rechargeable energy storage systems used in category L vehicles (vehicles with fewer than four wheels, such as electric motorcycles) must meet TIS 2952-2561.
Both Ministerial Regulations take effect 180 days after publication in the Royal Gazette. Once in force, manufacturers and importers must obtain licenses under the Industrial Product Standards Act, and sellers may only sell certified products that meet the standards. In its comments, the Ministry of Energy said the effective date should take into account the readiness of manufacturers, importers and testing bodies.
Key Points
Toyota's FCEV project involves THB 1.49 billion of investment and 3,000 units a year, starting production in December 2027, with initial output entirely exported.
The project will purchase about THB 640 million a year locally, supporting local parts supply.
The BOI has approved a cumulative 203 EV-related projects with investment of more than THB 141 billion.
The Ministerial Regulations on mandatory standards for EV traction batteries take effect 180 days after publication in the Royal Gazette; manufacturers and importers must first obtain licenses.
Z&X Insight
Expansion of vehicle projects drives local parts purchasing. Chinese parts makers aiming to enter automakers' supply chains should assess both the BOI category and customer factory audit requirements; companies that make or import batteries should build product certification into their production schedule. Z&X BOI Investment Promotion Application services are for Chinese companies in manufacturing, new energy and other sectors planning to apply for BOI promotion in Thailand, covering both new projects and new projects of existing companies; approval is subject to BOI review.
Sources
บีโอไอไฟเขียว "โตโยต้า" ลงทุนเพิ่ม 1.4 พันล้าน ขึ้นไลน์ผลิต "รถปิกอัพไฮโดรเจน" รายแรกในไทย (BOI Greenlights Toyota's Additional THB 1.4 Billion Investment in Thailand's First Hydrogen Pickup Production Line) (PR183/2569) | Board of Investment (BOI) | 2026-10-19 | https://osos.boi.go.th/TH/news/2505/
สรุปข่าวการประชุมคณะรัฐมนตรี 20 ตุลาคม 2569 (Summary of the Cabinet Meeting, 20 October 2026), items 1 and 3: draft Ministerial Regulations on mandatory standards for EV rechargeable energy storage systems | Secretariat of the Prime Minister | 2026-10-20 | https://www.thaigov.go.th/th/news/170354
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