Thailand Post, Mitsubishi Motors Thailand, and OR Strengthen Partnership to Use BEVs for Local Logistics To Create New Low-carbon Routes in the Smart City of Phuket-Chonburi

BANGKOK – 14 February 2023: Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand) Co., Ltd. recently joined hands with Thailand Post Co., Ltd. and PTT Oil and Retail Business Plc. (OR) for the second phase of their project to use the battery-powered Mitsubishi Minicab MiEV as a commercial logistical solution. This follows a successful pilot study that commenced in 2022. This project aims to strengthen Thailand Post’s operational transformation towards an eco-friendlier, lower carbon-emissions delivery while exploring the practical use of electric vehicles (EV) in Thailand.

The project demonstrates Mitsubishi Motors Thailand’s as well as its partners’ shared commitment to drive Thailand toward a carbon-neutral society. With support from Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan (assigned ABeam Consulting and ABeam Consulting Thailand as project management) and Japan Post, plus technical knowledge and know-how shared by Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, the collaboration also aims to demonstrate the practical use of EVs in logistics companies, as well as in daily working life for individuals, as both of whom travel similar routes each day.

Mr. Eiichi Koito, President and CEO of Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand) Co., Ltd. said, "We highly appreciate our leading partners including Thailand Post and OR for the support of this project. Together, we are one step closer to Carbon Neutrality and the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This partnership is also aligned with Mitsubishi Motors Thailand’s electrification agenda in Thailand.”

“Mitsubishi Motors Thailand will continue to explore new opportunities and establish new partnerships with public and private sectors to help drive the EV market and leverage transportation systems in Thailand. The pilot usage of Mitsubishi Minicab MiEV in delivering parcels is a great example for drivers who are looking for real-world daily usage of EVs for work commutes and businesses,” added Mr. Koito.

In the second phase of this project, Thailand Post will be using the Mitsubishi Minicab MiEVs to deliver parcels to customers on hilly terrains in Phuket and Chonburi. The electric vehicle offers a quiet, economical, and environmentally friendly drive while having a maximum payload of 350kg with two passengers.

“In 2023, Thailand Post has plans to emphasize on the development of environmental-friendly routes as we see that the country’s economic growth relies on efficient logistics services. As Thailand Post offers nationwide delivery coverage, we need to ensure the use of clean energy in our operations to help reduce carbon emissions while controlling the fluctuating fuel cost. Our carbon-reduction plans have been in effect for over three years, and since 2022 we have started using electric vehicles in our practical delivery system, ranging from electric motorbikes, electric trucks, and vans,” said Dr. Danan Suphatthaphan, President of Thailand Post Co., Ltd.

“Thailand Post has been using EVs to deliver parcels in order to reduce long-term cost while maintaining low CO2 emissions since we can plan exact same routes to deliver parcels every day. Aside from deploying our Green Logistics strategy, we also collaborate with our partners, such as Mitsubishi Motors, who are EV experts, to adopt the environmental-friendly Mitsubishi Minicab MiEV for postal delivery -- to lower the fuel costs, be friendlier to the Earth, in line with our carbon reduction target. In 2023, we will pilot the use of Mitsubishi Minicab MiEV in the delivery routes in Chonburi, and the Smart City of Phuket, which are trending with high-growth for the logistics business, prior to rolling out to other regions,” added Dr. Danan.

Mr. Akira Goto, Deputy Director, International Affairs Office Postal Service Policy Department, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan, said, “We support this project to share knowledge and technology of EVs in real-world use. I believe all public and private organizations currently have the same goal of greenhouse gas reduction and a decarbonized society. As a model currently marketed and used to deliver parcels nationwide in Japan, the Mitsubishi Minicab MiEV offers high practicality for similar operations in Thailand.”

In Japan, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation has provided 10,000 Minicab MiEVs to various logistics companies, retailers and local governments all over the country. Out of these 10,000 units, 1,800 units were delivered to Japan Post.

Mr. Songpon Thepnumsommanus, Senior Executive Vice President, Energy Solutions Business of PTT Oil and Retail Business Public Company Limited (OR), said, “One of our 2030 goals is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at our operated assets and to increase clean energy usage for Carbon Neutrality. The collaboration with Mitsubishi Motors Thailand and Thailand Post will help us achieve the target and strengthen integrated energy business for seamless mobility. In addition, OR plans to expand EV Station PluZ to total 800 stations within 2023 inside and outside PTT stations. Moreover, OR continually cooperates with partner to aim for 7,000 EV charging connectors by 2030 to support the growth of EV users.”

Under last year’s MoU terms, Mitsubishi Motors Thailand has provided two units of Mitsubishi Minicab MiEVs to better understand, collect and analyze data and behavior on the commercial application of BEVs using real-world field data from Thailand Post's logistic operations. It also explores the potential of widespread adoption of EV in Thailand – in line with the company’s vision on social contribution ‘To Contribute and Grow with Thai Society’ and its three main pillars: Education, Environment and Health, contributing to the overall development of Thailand’s economy and society.

About Mitsubishi Motors Thailand (MMTh)

Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand) Co., Ltd., the largest plant in the MMC group and an export hub to more than 120 countries, is one of Thailand’s leading automotive manufacturers committed to produce and sell a range of vehicles that are eco-friendly, high in quality, performance, safety, comfort, technology and customer satisfaction. In 2018, MMTH officially opened Education Academy in Pathum Thani and celebrated a total production of six million units at the beginning of 2021. MMTh’s current range of vehicles includes MITSUBISHI TRITON, MITSUBISHI PAJERO SPORT, MITSUBISHI ATTRAGE, MITSUBISHI MIRAGE, MITSUBISHI XPANDER, MITSUBISHI XPANDER CROSS and MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER PHEV. To ensure the highest quality, MMTh uses its proving ground in Si Racha, Chonburi to assess products from design and prototype stages to pre-production and commercialization. This ensures customers take delivery of vehicles that are second-to-none in all aspects of quality.

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