Thai University Selects Nine Vietnamese Electric Buses for 63.72 Million Baht, Five-Year Contract
Suranaree University of Technology in Thailand selected a transport service using nine electric buses imported from Vietnam under a five-year, 63.72 million baht contract. The university said the contract covers vehicles, drivers and maintenance, rather than the purchase of the buses. Neither bidder offered buses with Made in Thailand certification, so the domestic-product preference did not apply.
Suranaree University of Technology (SUT) in Thailand’s Nakhon Ratchasima province selected a transport service using nine electric buses imported from Vietnam, prompting questions about why it did not use locally made vehicles. The university explained on November 9 that the five-year contract, worth 63.72 million baht, covers vehicles, drivers and maintenance and replaces an expired contract. It is not a separate purchase of nine buses.
A Thai university’s tender for electric bus transport services has sparked discussion.（VietVance）
The university said the tender documents published on March 6 allowed bidders to use qualifying vehicles made or assembled in Thailand, as well as imported vehicles that meet local technical, registration and road-use requirements. Under one clause, products certified Made in Thailand by the Federation of Thai Industries would receive preference if their quoted price was no more than 5% above the lowest bid. Neither bidder offered certified electric buses, so the university selected the winning bidder based on compliance with technical requirements and the lowest price.
The dispute also concerns the university’s earlier electric bus research. Thai media outlet Matichon reported that a faculty member, in an open letter to the university, questioned why research into an electric bus system conducted with a local company using funding previously granted to the university had not been given a chance to be tested in practice. In July 2024, SUT signed an agreement with Thai energy company PTT Oil and Retail Business to test a 40-seat electric bus and collect data on energy use and operating costs.
The buses in use are from Vietnam’s Kim Long Motor brand. On September 18, Kim Long Motor Hue Joint Stock Company announced the export of nine electric buses to Thailand, saying they were the first batch of a total of 113 vehicles to be supplied to INNOPOWER Co., Ltd., with delivery planned for 2026. The export model is about 8 meters long, carries 30 passengers and has a BYD battery with a capacity of more than 138 kWh. The manufacturer says it can travel nearly 300 kilometers on a single charge.
An electric bus exported to Thailand by Kim Long Motor.（VietVance）
Thai manufacturers are also competing for electric bus orders. On November 11, Thai media outlet Kaohoon cited NEX Point as saying that it produces and assembles electric buses at the Absolute Assembly plant in Chachoengsao province. Some models have Made in Thailand certification and can be delivered within a month. The company identifies schools, universities and transport operators as target customers.
Source: VietVance
