Thailand's Excise Department is restructuring vehicle tax policy to use CO2 emissions as the primary metric instead of vehicle type, opening incentives to BEV, HEV, PHEV, and EREV vehicles. The move supports a broader strategic shift from attracting EV manufacturing to becoming a regional EV export hub, requiring investments in high-value local content (batteries, powertrains) and reducing reliance on vehicle imports. This policy change aims to leverage Thailand's automotive manufacturing legacy ("Detroit of Asia") for clean energy vehicles while enabling incumbent combustion-engine suppliers to transition gradually to hybrid and electric technologies.