Thailand's Finance Ministry is fast-tracking an excise tax increase on imported EVs (potentially 30–32% from current 10%) to protect domestic car makers against tariff-free Chinese EV imports under China FTA terms. A September 7 EV Board meeting will finalize the new tax structure. Importers and Japanese manufacturers are protesting the imminent timeline, warning of 20% price hikes, consumer cancellations, and supply-chain disruption; some Chinese EV makers are now considering local production to offset costs.