Buyers of BYD cars before price cut offered free charging for one year
Thai government in talks for more compensation
Buyers of some 50,000 BYD electric cars, whose prices were slashed soon after their purchase, can recharge their EVs free of charge for one year as part of a grievance redressal offer.
The Thai government would continue to negotiate for more compensation, a Cabinet member said on Wednesday.
PM’s Office Minister Jiraporn Sinthuprai told reporters that she had met and discussed the remedial measures with Rever Automotive, the Thai distributor for the Chinese automaker, and Rever agreed to allow owners of BYD EVs purchased before the discounted price to use recharging services for free for one year.
Jiraporn, who supervises the Office of the Consumer Protection Board, said the owners of BYD EVs bought before July 1 can recharge their EVs at some 2,000 charging stations of Rever Automotive around the country, starting August 1.
She said the executives of Rever Automotive told her that they had yet to hold a consultation as to whether to concede more remedy measures.
Jiraporn said she had asked Rever Automotive to offer more remedies in line with the promise given by BYD chairman Wang Chuanfu when he met Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin at Government House early July.
During the meeting, BYD assured the PM that it would consider future pricing adjustments as recommended, ensuring an appropriate format and frequency that allows the market to adapt. They also promised to find measures to compensate customers affected by price changes.
Earlier, Rever Automotive had announced two measures but they failed to pacify angry buyers: Rever promised 50,000-baht credit for BYD customers to buy one more BYD EV car, and, the owners would be offered a special charging fee of 4 baht from August 1 to January 3 next year.
According to Jiraporn, the charging fee would be exempted instead.
Earlier, it was reported that a group of 50 angry buyers had sought help from the Thailand Consumers Council to file a class-action lawsuit to force Rever to buy back their cars.
