At 1:00 p.m. on June 13, around 18 electric vehicle (EV) dealers representing NETA across Thailand met with Mr. Phanuphong Sriket, Deputy Director-General of the Excise Department, to seek clarification and solutions regarding operational and financial issues involving NETA Auto (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
Earlier in June, NETA Auto executives publicly stated they had yet to receive any EV subsidies under government schemes EV 3.0 and EV 3.5. The dealers sought confirmation from the Excise Department, as NETA Auto allegedly owes them more than 400 million baht. They also raised concerns about warranties on EV batteries and parts—promised to be covered for 5–8 years—and asked what guarantees remain if the company exits Thailand.
Mr. Chattadanai Komrithai, a dealer representative, noted that since November 2024, NETA had repeatedly delayed payments, citing unmet government subsidies. He stressed the urgent need for the department’s intervention, as today’s attendees alone represent about 200 million baht in unpaid sums, with overall damages estimated at over 400 million baht.
In response, Mr. Phanuphong acknowledged the situation and confirmed that the Excise Department had already disbursed most of the government-approved subsidies to NETA. However, payments were paused after the company reported production shortfalls, breaching agreed conditions. The department then requested a bank guarantee as per legal protocols—yet NETA has not complied, preventing further payouts.
He added that while the department must carefully and fairly manage public funds, some issues fall outside its jurisdiction as they involve private commercial contracts. He encouraged all affected parties to seek legal recourse as appropriate, affirming that pending subsidies will only be released once NETA fulfills all legal and regulatory requirements.
Currently, NETA has around 40 active dealers, down from the original 60.