Toyota Motor Thailand has signed an agreement with Thailand's Excise Department to receive tax incentives and a subsidy for Toyota's battery electric vehicle (BEV) model bZ4X, the Bangkok Post reported on April 29. According to the department, Great Wall Motor Thailand and MG Sales Thailand have also signed such an agreement, which brings BEV taxes down from 8% to 2% until 2026 and provides a subsidy of THB70,000-150,000 to each BEV buyer. Furthermore, import duty on BEV from Japan, South Korea, and Europe will decrease to 20%, 40%, and 40% respectively.
Vietnam to connect ADC undersea cable for larger bandwidth
According to Vietnam Insider, Vietnam is expected to install the ADC (Asia Direct Cable) undersea fiber optic cable in Quy Nhon, Binh Dinh, which spans 9,800 kilometers from Singapore to Japan. With a capacity of over 140Tbps, whose bandwidth is three times larger than all cables currently in use in Vietnam, the ADC will be the fastest Internet cable in Vietnam.
SEA startup investment deals to reach record high in volume
According to Deal Street Asia, in the first quarter of 2022, Southeast Asia's homegrown startups have collected US$4.19 billion in total equity funding, declining marginally from the record set in the previous quarter. However, amid rising inflation and growing geopolitical risks, the number of deals still hit record high at 310 in the first quarter. Seed investments grew 75% on-year, suggesting a growing appetite for early-stage startups in Southeast Asia, according to the report.
Singaporean Neuron Mobility to roll out micro-mobility in developed countries
According to Tech in Asia, a Singapore-based e-scooter startup Neuron Mobility has bagged US$43.5 million in its series B fundraising, which was mainly led by GSR Ventures and Square Peg. The company has chosen to introduce its product in cities with higher vehicle use rates rather than emerging markets with less regulation on e-mobility. It has rolled out in 14 cities and Australia and gained permits to operate in about one-third of the cities in Canada.
YTL to improve healthcare in Malaysia by deploying 5G in ambulances
According to Techwire Asia, Malaysia's YTL Communications became the first telecommunication company to sign a deal with the Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) to deploy 5G network in Malaysia to improve healthcare services along with First Ambulance services. The two companies plan to provide remote telemetry of diagnostics and imaging through Wi-Fi in the YES ambulance fleet.
