As Southeast Asia accelerates its transition toward new energy, the electric motorcycle vs gas comparison highlights the many advantages of electric two-wheelers. Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam have emerged as the region’s most promising growth markets for electric vehicles and electric motorcycles. Driven by supportive government policies, persistently high fuel prices, and rapid urbanization, the demand for transportation electrification in these three countries is rising quickly.
Thailand is actively attracting global automakers to invest, Indonesia is leveraging its abundant nickel resources to build a competitive battery industry chain, and Vietnam is rapidly increasing electric two-wheeler adoption through strong domestic brands.
This article provides an overview of the EV market landscape in Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam to reveal the significant growth potential hidden within Southeast Asia’s electric vehicle sector.
Thailand: Current Status of the Electric Vehicle Market
Thailand serves as the “bridgehead” for Chinese automakers entering the Southeast Asian market. Supported by strong government incentives—such as the EV 3.0 policy—Chinese brands including BYD, Great Wall Motor, and GAC Aion have rapidly captured a major share of Thailand’s electric vehicle market.
Thai consumers particularly favor models that offer high cost-performance and rich intelligent features. This is exactly where Chinese automakers excel, delivering a level of technology and smart experience far superior to Japanese cars in the same price segment—forming their most decisive competitive advantage.
China’s momentum in the electric two-wheeler sector is equally strong. According to the latest data from Thailand’s Department of Land Transport, by the end of 2024, Chinese electric motorcycle brands had already surpassed a 10% market share in Thailand.
Among them, Yadea has achieved true “localization for Thailand” through deep insights into local usage environments, regulations, user habits, and commuting pain points. NIU, on the other hand, attracts a large base of young urban users with its intelligent features and stylish design.
Indonesia: Current Status of the Electric Vehicle Market
As the largest automotive market in Southeast Asia, Indonesia is witnessing a rapid surge in electric vehicle adoption. In the first half of 2025, sales of battery electric vehicles increased by an impressive 267% year-on-year, with Chinese brands accounting for more than 93% of total sales—effectively establishing market dominance.
Indonesian consumers show a strong preference for compact cars and SUVs, and the success of Chinese models such as the Wuling Airev perfectly reflects this demand. With advantages in affordability, strong performance, and stylish design, Chinese electric vehicles are winning the trust of an increasing number of local consumers.
As the world’s third-largest motorcycle market, Indonesia has over 120 million motorcycles in use. Supported by the government’s “fuel-to-electric” transition policy, electric motorcycle sales have surged by nearly 400%. Leading Chinese brands including Yadea, AIMA, and NIU have already entered the Indonesian market. In June this year, emerging Chinese smart e-motorcycle brand OMOWAY unveiled its first smart electric motorcycle prototype, OMOX, in Jakarta, with plans to launch it in Indonesia as early as 2026.
Vietnam: Major Electric Two-Wheeler Brands
Vietnam’s market structure is unique compared with other Southeast Asian countries. In the electric vehicle segment, local brand VinFast holds a dominant position, while various other brands compete for the remaining share.
VinFast, one of the Top 10 Electric Motorcycle Manufacturers in Southeast Asia, occupies more than 43% of Vietnam’s E2W market. Its main competitive advantages include:
- Pricing that is lower than equivalent ICE models;
- A nationwide charging network with over 150,000 charging points, installed across shopping malls, highway service stations, apartment complexes, and other public urban areas;
- A battery leasing scheme: a 2 million VND deposit, a 350,000 VND monthly fee for riders traveling under 2,000 km per month, and 990,000 VND per month for usage exceeding 2,000 km.
Pega holds more than 16% of Vietnam’s E2W market, with key advantages such as:
- Strong cost-performance ratio;
- A three-day return policy for consumers.
Yadea accounts for approximately 12–13% of Vietnam’s E2W market. Its primary competitive strengths include:
- A retail network of over 700 stores, covering Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities and enabling deep penetration into both urban and suburban markets;
- Aggressive promotions, including a 2 million VND (about USD 80) trade-in discount;
- A diverse product portfolio of 15 E2W models, meeting the needs of a broad range of consumer groups.
Dibao holds approximately 12% of Vietnam’s E2W market, with key competitive advantages including:
- A pricing strategy tailored for Vietnam’s entry-level to mid-range segment, targeting students, working-class consumers, and urban commuters;
- Affordable prices ranging from 18 to 24 million VND, making it one of the most accessible brands in the country;
- A strong offline presence with over 400 physical showrooms and dealerships.
NIU accounts for 6.2% of Vietnam’s E2W market and differentiates itself through:
- Its proprietary battery management system and regenerative braking technology;
- Bosch motors used across its entire product lineup;
- An LED digital dashboard, minimalist design aesthetics, and ergonomic vehicle architecture;
- IoT ecosystem integration, including app-based diagnostics, anti-theft alerts, real-time tracking, and remote vehicle management—features that make NIU highly appealing to tech-savvy urban riders in Vietnam.
Gogoro holds approximately 3.1% of Vietnam’s E2W market, competing through strong differentiation:
- A pioneering battery-swapping infrastructure;
- The only brand in Vietnam capable of providing a fully integrated battery-swapping system at scale;
- Its swappable battery solution is especially valuable for high-frequency riders such as food and parcel delivery services.
Dat Bike accounts for 2% to 3% of Vietnam’s electric motorcycle market, with key differentiators including:
- Company-owned retail stores;
- A riding range of 200–285 km per charge, with the fastest charging time reaching full charge in just 3 hours;
- Motors of 6 kW and above, enabling top speeds of 100 km/h.
However, in the electric two-wheeler sector, Chinese brands are engaging in direct competition. Vietnam is the world’s third-largest market for electric motorcycles, with approximately 209,000 new E2W units sold in the first half of 2025, representing a 99.2% year-on-year increase. According to Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology, Chinese brands now hold 28% of the country’s electric two-wheeler market.
Why Is Southeast Asia a Key Export Market for Chinese Automakers?
Geography and Policy
Southeast Asia shares close geographical proximity and cultural ties with China, along with frequent economic and trade interactions. Against this backdrop, countries such as Thailand and Indonesia have gradually introduced supportive policies and tax incentives for electric vehicles, creating favorable opportunities for Chinese automakers to accelerate their market entry.
Market and Demand
Southeast Asia is currently undergoing rapid urbanization, with traffic congestion and high fuel prices becoming widespread challenges for daily life. Chinese electric vehicles and electric motorcycles, with their strong cost-performance advantages, perfectly meet the core mobility needs of local users and effectively alleviate the “pain points” of traditional transportation methods.
From “Functional Replacement” to “Experience Upgrade”
Chinese new energy products are no longer merely functional substitutes for conventional fuel-powered vehicles—they represent a comprehensive upgrade to local lifestyles. The intelligent experience of electric vehicles, combined with the quiet, clean, and convenient nature of electric motorcycles, is redefining mobility standards in Southeast Asia and winning favor among young consumers pursuing a modern way of life.
Conclusion
Of greater significance is that Chinese automakers’ international strategy has evolved from simple “vehicle exports” to an ecosystem-based full-industry chain approach. Led by electric vehicles, China’s core components and key technologies—such as power batteries, intelligent cockpits, and automotive electronics—are entering the Southeast Asian market and being widely applied within local production systems. Battery swap station solution providers are also facilitating the broad adoption of electric two-wheelers. This trend is attracting numerous Chinese supply chain companies to accelerate exports, working in collaboration with automakers to build a multi-layered industry chain and jointly tap into this highly potential market.
