AIS collaborates with partners to host a forum elevating Thai Creators unveil exclusive formulas, tips, and strategies to advance coaching professions, empowering entrepreneurs for sustainable growth.
AIS organizes the Global Creator Culture Summit, featuring world-renowned Professor David Craig, a leading social media scholar from the United States. The event unveils global coach growth figures, emphasizing the communication context in the new world. It gathers ecosystem partners and top Thai Creator, revealing inspiration, secret formulas, and tips to foster creator into professions capable of sustainable and robust growth.
Mr.Pratthana Leelapanang, Chief Consumer Business Officer at AIS said “As the developers of the country’s digital infrastructure, apart from the goal of delivering experiences and technologies to Thai customers and people, we are also ready to support various tools and connect knowledge and skills for all types of entrepreneurs in line with the Ecosystem Economy. This includes particularly supporting Content Creators, who are crucial drivers of the economy, society, culture, and serve as focal points for global context changes from every angle. This is the rationale behind organizing the “Global Creator Culture Summit”, where besides the privilege of hosting esteemed global scholars like Professor David Craig, one of the world’s leading social media scholars from the United States, to provide valuable insights for Thai Content Creators, we have also invited top Thai Content Creators and stakeholders involved in driving Thailand’s Creator Culture ecosystem to exchange ideas on this platform.”
Professor David Craig stated, “Today, creators are influential individuals who serve as the primary drivers of the global economy. They have the potential to act as their own ‘brands,’ community builders online, and generate income through various channels such as O2O (online-to-offline) from their own spaces, platforms, and other channels. They also contribute to the economic value of other industries, driving the development of various services and features on mobile phones, which are crucial for the growth of the telecommunications industry.
This confirms that creators are the focal point for creating economic revenue on platforms and related ecosystems, estimated to be worth about $7 trillion globally. For example, the Wanghong Culture or internet celebrities in China, who wield significant influence in the online world, have propelled the growth of social commerce dramatically. In China, anyone, even agricultural workers, can become renowned influencers because they are supported to become Wanghong creators. Therefore, I believe that through the exchange and research efforts in this event, we can identify clear pathways to create an economy from global creator cultures, shaping the future and direction of the global economy and society together.”
The “Global Creator Culture Summit,” organized by AIS and its partners, took place on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 The event featured numerous experts exchanging knowledge, inspiration, and success tips for becoming creators. Speakers included:
Mr. Asa PiwkhumDirector of Business and Innovation Development, Creative Economy Agency (Public Organization), on the topic “Directions and Roles in Promoting Thai Creators Globally.”
Mr. Sarun Bangkusonjit CEO of Uppercuz Creative, on “How to Generate Income as a Content Creator.”
Mr. Aticharn Cherngchavano Founder of Spin 9, discussing “Opportunities for Thai Creators Recognized by Global Brands.”
Mr. Wuttipong Likitchewan CEO of Artee Media and CEO of VEGA Creator (Thailand), on “Opening Pathways for Creators to Live Commerce, Ranked No. 1 in Thailand, Generating 1 billion Baht in Sales.”
Mr. Thammachad Yothajul (Thammachad), a prominent TikToker, discussing “Unconventional Nature of ‘Thammachad,’ LGBTQ+ Breaking All Fears, to Drag Queen Creator Dominating Social Media.”
Mr. Kawin Panusittikorn, Head of Seller Management Thailand, TikTok Shop, on “From Seller to Creator: Making Money on TikTok.”
Mr. Tanapon Subsomboon, CEO of YDM Thailand, on “New Success Formula for Creator Marketing Strategies in the Digital Age.”
Mr. Kanatip Theerateep, Head of Product Marketing and Postpaid, AIS, on “Good, Popular, and AIS’s Products to Empower Creators to Go Far Beyond the Frontier.”
These discussions provided invaluable insights for aspiring and established content creators.
One of the three South Korean suspects went on May 3, 2024, to buy a large plastic barrel, which matches the barrel in which the body of Mr. Roh Eui Jong, a 34-year-old Korean, was found inside and dumped in a reservoir in Pattaya.
BANGKOK – The South Criminal Court of Bangkok has approved arrest warrants for three South Korean suspects in the kidnapping and murder of Mr. Roh Eui Jong, a 34-year-old Korean who went missing in Bangkok before May 7. His body, which had been found in a plastic barrel filled with cement in a Pattaya reservoir on May 11, was confirmed by DNA results on May 14.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Somkuan Phuenthap, Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau and chairman of the joint meeting of investigating officers in this case, revealed that although all ten fingers of the victim were cut off to destroy fingerprint evidence, the results of the DNA test compared with the deceased’s father, including his sister and cousin who traveled to confirm that the body found was Mr. Roh Eui Jong.
CCTV footage from several points in Bangkok, especially at RCA, Bangkok’s entertainment area, showed that Mr. Roh was taken away in a car by three men who were also South Korean. After that, Mr. Roh’s mother received a phone call from a mysterious person threatening to extort 3 million baht from her for ransom.
“The investigation team has gathered quite clear evidence, both images and personal witnesses, renters and lessors, guarantors for the rental, and related evidence that complements who else was involved,” the Deputy Commissioner said.
The suspects in this case are Mr. Lee Yongjin, 29 years old; Mr. Lee Roun, 25 years old; and Mr. Kim Hyeonngwon, 38 years old.
The suspects in this case are Mr. Lee Roun, 25 years old, Mr. Kim Hyeonngwon, 38 years old, and Mr. Lee Yongjin, 29 years old. They were arrested on charges of jointly coercing others to act, not act, or submit to something by making them fearful of danger to life, body, liberty, reputation, or property; jointly using tricks, deception, coercion, violence, abuse of power, or jointly detaining or confining others, or committing any act to deprive others of their physical freedom, causing the detained person to die in order to obtain a ransom.
In addition, there are also charges of jointly killing another person to take or retain benefits arising from other offenses committed to conceal one’s own offenses or to evade punishment for other offenses committed, concealing, moving, or destroying a corpse or part of a corpse to conceal the death or cause of death, and jointly stealing property and illegally using another person’s electronic card.
A suspect behind the murder and abandonment of a body involving a South Korean tourist in Pattaya who was arrested Sunday evening is escorted by police officers for questioning in Jeongeup, North Jeolla Province, on May 13, 2024. (Yonhap)
Pol. Maj. Gen. Somkuan said that after the court approved the issuance of arrest warrants, the investigation team accelerated coordination with Interpol and the South Korean police to bring the two perpetrators to Thailand for immediate prosecution, as Thailand and South Korea already have an extradition treaty between them.
Initially, from the investigative approach, it was found that the motive involved property, and no other issues were found.
The autopsy results currently indicate that the deceased had been dead for about 3-4 days, but it is not yet possible to specify in depth at what time or where the death occurred. However, the investigation found that the murder may have occurred between the area of Bangkok and Chonburi province, as blood traces were found as evidence in many areas.
A team of divers found a black plastic barrel filled with cement and a body inside in the Mabprachan reservoir in Pattaya on May 11, 2024.
After this, the investigation team will have to thoroughly examine the timeline again, as it is still found that there are some missing time points that need to be investigated urgently.
Prior to this, according to a report by Yonhap, a South Korean news agency, a suspect in his 20s was arrested at his residence in the southwestern city of Jeongeup on Sunday evening and placed under emergency arrest. The Gyeongnam Provincial Police stated that the suspect has denied all charges brought against him during an overnight police interrogation.
Later on May 14, another suspect was nabbed at a lodging in Phnom Penh at around midnight following a tip-off that a South Korean suspected of involvement in the case was spotted in the area.
The authorities suspect that the third suspect fled from Thailand to Myanmar.
Thai activists hold candles during a vigil for Netiporn Sanesangkhom, a member of the activist group Thaluwang, known for their bold and aggressive campaigns demanding reform of the monarchy and abolition of the law that makes it illegal to defame members of the royal family, outside of Criminal court in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, May 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
NAPAT KONGSAWAD, BANGKOK — A young Thai activist who went on a hunger strike after being jailed for advocating reform of the country’s system of monarchy died Tuesday in a prison hospital, officials said.
Netiporn Sanesangkhom, 28, was a member of the activist group Thaluwang, known for their bold and aggressive campaigns demanding reform of the monarchy and abolition of the law that makes it illegal to defame members of the royal family. The group’s name can be loosely translated to “breaking through the palace,” a reference to its open criticism of Thailand’s monarchy.
She appears to be the first political activist in Thailand to have died after carrying on a hunger strike.
The royal institution until recent years was widely considered an untouchable, bedrock element of Thai nationalism. Criticism of the monarchy was taboo, and insulting or defaming key royal family members remains punishable by up to 15 years in prison under a lese majeste law, usually referred to as Article 112 of Thailand’s Criminal Code.
Student-led pro-democracy protests beginning in 2020 openly criticized the monarchy, leading to vigorous prosecutions under the law, which had previously been relatively rarely employed. Critics say the law is often wielded as a tool to quash political dissent.
The protest movement faded due to government harassment and the coronavirus pandemic, but Netiporn was one of more than 270 activists charged with Thailand’s royal defamation law since the protests in 2020-21.
Thai activists hold a portrait of Netiporn Sanesangkhom, a member of the activist group Thaluwang, known for their bold and aggressive campaigns demanding reform of the monarchy and abolition of the law that makes it illegal to defame members of the royal family outside of Criminal court in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, May 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
Netiporn suffered cardiac arrest early Tuesday morning, and medical teams spent several hours trying to resuscitate her. She was pronounced dead just before noon, according to a press release from the Corrections Department..
She had two charges of lese majeste pending against her, both of them involving conducting polls in public spaces in 2022 asking people’s opinion about the royal family, according to the group Thai Lawyers for Human Rights. Her release on bail was revoked in January due to her participation in a political rally last year.
Netiporn started her hunger strike after she was detained in January. The Corrections Department said she started eating and drinking water again after April 4. However, the human rights lawyer group’s latest update on her condition on April 25 said she was still fasting.
Two fellow jailed activists are also carrying out hunger strikes. Both are Thaluwang’s monarchy reform activists slapped with lese majeste charges, and they started their hunger strike about a month after Netiporn.
Netiporn’s lawyers had applied to transfer her from the Central Corrections Hospital to Thammasat University Hospital but was never granted a prolonged stay there for treatment, said her lawyer Kritsadang Nutcharas.
“Does it seem like there’s standard treatment in the Thai justice system when we compare what these kids are going through with their political charges and what some prominent adults have gone through?” Kritsadang said. He was making an apparent reference to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who returned from exile last year to serve a prison term on corruption-related cases but never spent a single night in jail on grounds of ill health.
Thaluwang has made high-profile protests calling not only for reform of the monarchy, but also changes in the justice system and an end to political persecution through the courts. It has also called for rejection of Thailand’s application to join the U.N. Human Rights Council.
Thailand announced its bid for a seat on the U.N. Human Rights Council for the 2025-2027 term after the current government took office last year, seeking to show its commitment to protect human rights. Critics charge that the reality of law enforcement in the country strongly contradicts its ambition to be recognized by the international community as a human rights defender.
Human Rights Watch has raised concerns over “the Thai government’s use of arbitrary arrest and pretrial detention to punish critics of the monarchy for their views” which it says is a violation of their rights under international human rights law.
The driver whose car caught fire on Saturday was identified on May 14, 2024, as a 35-year-old Nigerian man.
BANGKOK – The police officer at Bangkok’s Prawet Police Station announced on May 14 the results of the identity verification of the driver who crashed into a road median and whose car caught fire on Saturday. The driver was identified as a 35-year-old Nigerian man named Daniel, whose Thai wife came to confirm his identity with the police.
This serious road accident occurred at 5:30 a.m. on May 11 on a three-lane road near Soi Phatthanakan 53/1, Suan Luang Subdistrict and District, Bangkok. When officials received the report and arrived at the scene, they found a gray Toyota Vios with Samut Prakan province license plates overturned and engulfed in flames, blocking the middle of the road.
The officers spent about 10 minutes spraying water to extinguish the fire, but the car was completely damaged by the flames.
A gray Toyota Vios overturned and engulfed in flames, blocking the middle of the road near Soi Phatthanakan 53/1, Suan Luang District, Bangkok, on May 11, 2024.The officers spent about 10 minutes spraying water to extinguish the fire, but the car was completely damaged by the flames.
At that time, rescuers had to use cutting and prying equipment to remove the driver’s body from the wreckage and send it to the Police Hospital for an autopsy. They found a document with a front-facing photo of a foreign man.
Eyewitnesses stated that they saw the car driving at high speed in the far right lane before losing control and crashing into the road median. The car spun and hit a palm tree with such force that it flipped over and ended up on its roof in the middle of the road. At that moment, good Samaritans tried to pry open the door to help the unconscious driver, but before they could pull him out, sparks ignited, and the car quickly caught fire.
According to the Thai Road Safety Center (Thai RSC), there were 240 foreigner died in road accidents in Thailand in 2024. Chiang Mai had the highest number with 26 deaths, followed by Phuket and Ratchaburi with 18 each, then Surat Thani and Chonburi with 15 each. Bangkok had 14 deaths.
As for injuries, there have been over 10,744 cases, with Phuket having the highest number at 2,541 and Bangkok at 1,648.
Ms. Sudthida Saensaeng, also known as Waew, 32, from Udon Thani, was murdered in Keelung City, Taiwan.
UDON THANI – The mother and sister of Ms. Sudthida Saensaeng, also known as Waew, 32, the Thai woman who was murdered in Keelung on Saturday, have traveled to Taiwan to perform her funeral rites, with the help of relatives and neighbors who jointly raised money to donate for the cost of the plane tickets.
When the officials from the Udon Thani Provincial Department of Labor visied Ms. Sudthida’s family in Tad Thong Sub-district, Sri That District, Udon Thani Province, they met Mrs. Duangporn Changlek, 59, Sudthida’s aunt.
They asked her aunt about Sudthida’s working conditions in Taiwan and provided information about the social security system. As Sudthida had not contacted an official employment agency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had to negotiate the funeral assistance.
The officials from the Udon Thani Provincial Department of Labor visited Ms. Sudthida’s family in Tad Thong Sub-district, Sri That District, Udon Thani Province.
“In the past, the bodies of deceased workers were not repatriated due to the high costs involved. Most of the time, funerals are held in Taiwan and the family bring back the ashes home for rituals. I advise the family to inform the Thai officials in Taiwan about the deceased’s belongings so that they can be returned in full,” said Nalinpan Siowchaisakul, senior labor academic from the Udon Thani Labor Office.
When Sudthida’s rights were checked, it was discovered that she had never worked abroad and had gone to Taiwan illegally this time. However, she was still entitled to benefits under the Social Security Act as she had previously worked in a factory and had joined the social security system.
Ms. Sudthida Saensaeng
After leaving employment, she continued to be voluntarily insured under Section 39 by contributing to the Social Insurance Fund. Therefore, her family would receive funeral expenses of 50,000 baht, a retirement pension of 63,744 baht and a death benefit of 28,800 baht.
Mrs. Duangporn thanked the officials and told them that Sudthida was a single mother of two children. On her sister’s recommendation, she traveled to Taiwan on a three-month tourist visa to work as a traditional Thai massage therapist. After her visa expired, she continued to work illegally to send money home and save 5 baht of gold (about 200,000 baht or 5,500 USD) to sell and build a house in Thailand.
Later, Sudthida was in a relationship with a man from Nakhon Phanom who had worked legally in a factory for four years. She told him that she no longer wanted to work as a masseuse because it was too strenuous and looked for a new job. She found a job advertisement on Facebook for a housekeeper with a salary of 35,000 baht and applied. However, after working for only three days, she was murdered.
“She called me and told me that her boyfriend had taken her to work. A female employer who is also Thai picked her up and took her to a messy and dirty house. The employer went through her luggage and probably saw the gold. During the three days she worked, the employer made her work very hard without breaks. On the day of the incident, she called and said she was exhausted and had not eaten. Out of anger, she kicked a bucket of water,” Duangporn said.
The Taiwanese police sealed off the scene for investigation on May 11, 2024.
She added that on Friday night, the employer asked Sudthida to pick vegetables on the mountain, but she was scared and sent her location to her boyfriend, who reported to the police and tried to rescue her but was too late.
Sudthida’s boyfriend found her body hanging from a branch at the foot of a cliff before the police arrived. He carried her out and found several stab wounds on her back, indicating that she had suffered a lot before she died.
The doctor confirmed that she died from significant blood loss. The family believes that the employer killed her for her valuables as the police found Sudthida’s gold in the employer’s room and a thorough investigation is still pending.
According to Taiwan media Liberty Times, the police apprehended the suspect, surnamed Lin at her residence in Zhongzheng District, Keelung City, around 3 p.m. on May 12. They gathered evidence of her involvement in the crime and asked the court for Lin’s detention, citing the risk of destroying evidence and fleeing.
Mr. Amnat Phalapleewan, Director of the Division of Protection and Assistance for Thai Nationals Abroad, Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated on May 14 that since this case is a murder, it is necessary to wait for the autopsy results to be completed first.
After that, the Thai Trade and Economic Office in Taipei will provide advice to the relatives regarding the management of the body. As for the investigation of the case, it will proceed according to Taiwan’s domestic laws. The Thai side is similarly waiting for Taiwan to report on the progress.
Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CP Foods), a leading company operating integrated agro-industrial and food business, announced a net profit of THB 1,152 million for the first quarter of fiscal year 2024, marking a notable 142% increase from the same period in the previous year. This impressive performance is attributed mainly to the favorable livestock pricing trends in Asia and ongoing enhancement in production efficiency, leading to significant softening of animal husbandry costs.
Mr. Prasit Boondoungprasert, CEO of CP Foods, reflected on the company’s improved performance, acknowledging the challenges faced in the previous year. He noted the significant cost escalations and market saturation in several countries, driven by an unexpected decline in consumer purchasing power. Nevertheless, these difficulties prompted the company to prioritize efficiency and prudent investment practices, leading to the divestment of partial assets to bolster operational effectiveness.
Additionally, there was a concerted focus on research and development to innovate and add value to products in response to consumer demands, particularly in the realm of nutritious and healthy products. Moreover, strategies in marketing, sales, and distribution channels were adjusted to better align with market dynamics and changing consumer preferences.
In the first quarter of this year, the company observed a notable surge of 142%, especially in its overseas operations in Vietnam and Cambodia, propelled by the expansion of sales channels and the increase in pig prices.
Additionally, the company witnessed improved profits from joint ventures and enhanced performance from CPALL and the swine business in China. It is anticipated that CP Foods’ performance will continue to strengthen consistently throughout the remaining quarters of 2024.
"Bung" Netiporn Sanesangkhom, a 28-year-old political activist, died on May 14, 2024.
PATUM THANI – “Bung” Netiporn Sanesangkhom, a 28-year-old political activist who advocated for youth to demand reform of the monarchy under the group “Talu Wang” (meaning “breakthrough the palace”), passed away shortly before noon on May 14 at Thammasat University Hospital in Pathum Thani province after being transferred from prison with sudden cardiac arrest.
Doctors from the Medical Correctional Hospital and Thammasat University Hospital tried their best to revive the patient from 6:20 a.m. to 11:22 a.m. The patient’s body did not respond to treatment and she passed away peacefully at 11:22 a.m. The Department of Corrections expressed their condolences to the deceased’s relatives and provided a statement regarding her condition.
Correctional officers brought Ms. Netiporn, also known as Bung, to Thammasat University Hospital, but doctors were unable to save her life on May 14, 2024.
“After the Medical Correctional Institution Hospital received Ms. Netiporn from Thammasat University Hospital on April 4, 2024, Ms. Netiporn resumed eating and drinking. Doctors and nurses provided close and continuous care, but she still had mild weakness and swelling in her legs. Blood tests showed mild anemia and low electrolytes, but Ms. Netiporn refused to take electrolytes and blood-nourishing vitamins, leading to the aforementioned symptoms and her death today,” the statement said.
Bung’s most recent hunger strike took place while she was detained for violating the law on royal defamation, also known as Article 112, for conducting a poll on the public’s inconvenience caused by royal motorcades on February 8, 2022, as well as for contempt of court.
In 2022, Bung had previously gone on a hunger strike alongside Ms. Nattanich Duangmusit, or Baipor, another activist friend, for as long as 64 days before being granted bail on August 4, 2022.
She was detained again on January 26, 2024, after the Bangkok South Criminal Court revoked her bail in the Article 112 case and sentenced her to one month in prison for contempt of court. After hearing the rulings in both cases, Bung did not request bail and was sent to the Central Women’s Correctional Institution on the evening of January 26.
“Bung” Netiporn Sanesangkhom, a 28-year-old political activist passed away on May 14, 2024.
She began a dry hunger strike on the evening of January 27 to demand reform of the justice system and that no one should be imprisoned for political dissent again.
The criminal law provision, Section 112, is seen as a political tool that allows individuals to be targeted and charged with severe penalties. The law states: “Whoever defames, insults, or threatens the king, queen, heir to the throne, or regent shall be punished with imprisonment for a term of three to fifteen years.”
Bung had given an interview to BBC Thai in 2022, stating that she grew up in a family of judiciary members. Her father was a judge, and her older sister was a lawyer. She was a bright student with excellent academic performance and was also active in extracurricular activities.
When Bung was studying at Triam Udom Suksa Nomklao School, she served as a member of the student committee. She then went on to study at the Department of Finance, Faculty of Business Administration, Kasetsart University, while also working as an English tutor.
When Bung was in high school, she participated in the PDRC (People’s Democratic Reform Committee) protests in 2014 to oust the democratically elected government of Yingluck Shinawatra. However, her political views gradually changed as she received new information through social media, especially when she learned that one of the 99 people who died during the crackdown on the Red Shirt protesters in 2010 was a homeless man shot by a sniper.
Soldiers face off with Redshirts protesters on Rama IV Road, 14 May 2010.
Feeling politically guilty, Bung changed her approach to activism and began focusing on education issues in mid-2020. As a tutor, she felt that the education system in Thailand was outdated in many aspects. One of her early activities involved advocating for students’ right to have their preferred hairstyles and for LGBT+ students’ right to express their gender identity.
From then on, she continued to support the youth who came out to protest and later engaged in activities with the Talu Wang group. She had never thought that she would also be charged under Article 112 simply for taking care of the youth participating in the activities.
She later became more well-known for her role as the guardian of “Yok,” the youngest female youth to be prosecuted under Article 112 at the age of 15, to enable Yok to return to her original school.
A group of activists, including 15-year-old Yok, stormed the Pheu Thai Party headquarters on August 7, 2023.
The activism of Bung and Yok was often criticized as being aggressive, exhibiting excessive protest behavior, and using words that led to quarrels. In addition, a youth who had fled abroad posted a message saying that when she was 16 years old, she had been manipulated by Bung in a manner similar to Yok, in what she described as “child grooming,” to make everything newsworthy and attention-grabbing, and to use the results of the activism to seek funding for further movements.
However, Yok insisted that she had never been manipulated by Bung and had engaged in various activities on her own. Eventually, Bung was detained in prison again, while Yok announced that she was ending her political activism on March 23, 2024.
Bung had previously made a will dated February 2, 2024, stating her intentions for the disposition of her assets in the event of her death. She expressed her wish to bequeath all her cash assets, bank deposits in all commercial banks, as well as her wristwatch, earrings, and pets solely to Yok.
Mr. Albert, an 81-year-old Israeli national, tries to communicate with the tourist police officers.
CHONBURI – Thai residents in Sattahip District, Chonburi Province notified the tourist police that they found a foreigner asking for help after being dropped off by a motorcycle taxi near the J intersection on Sukhumvit Road, and his phone was taken.
Tourist police, officials from the Chonburi Provincial Tourism and Sports Office, and Sattahip Police Station officers then went to investigate.
They found the foreigner sitting and waiting for the police near a roadside shop. He could not communicate well in English, but he used a translation application to indicate that his name was Mr. Albert, 81 years old, and an Israeli national. The tourist police then invited him for questioning at the Pattaya Tourist Police Office to find a Hebrew-speaking interpreter for further communication.
Police Lieutenant Apisit Phuengyaem, Deputy Inspector of Tourism, revealed that this foreigner traveled from Pattaya to visit Sattahip. He hired a motorcycle taxi driver in Soi Bua Khao, Pattaya, to drop him off at the incident location. The motorcycle driver then took his mobile phone.
If the tourist police investigation finds evidence, they will take the elderly Israeli man to file a complaint at the Sattahip Police Station to track down the motorcycle taxi driver for questioning and legal action.
A Seagull electric vehicle from Chinese automaker BYD for test driving is parked outside a showroom in Beijing, Wednesday, April 10, 2024. The tiny, low-priced electric vehicle called the Seagull has American automakers and politicians trembling. The car, launched last year by Chinese automaker BYD, sells for around $12,000 in China. But it drives well and is put together with craftsmanship that rivals U.S.-made electric vehicles that cost three times as much. Tariffs on imported Chinese vehicles probably will keep the Seagull away from America’s shores for now.(AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
LIVONIA, Mich. (AP) — A tiny, low-priced electric car called the Seagull has American automakers and politicians trembling.
The car, launched last year by Chinese automaker BYD, sells for around $12,000 in China, but drives well and is put together with craftsmanship that rivals U.S.-made electric vehicles that cost three times as much. A shorter-range version costs under $10,000.
Tariffs on imported Chinese vehicles probably will keep the Seagull away from America’s shores for now, and it likely would sell for more than 12 grand if imported.
But the rapid emergence of low-priced EVs from China could shake up the global auto industry in ways not seen since Japanese makers exploded on the scene during the oil crises of the 1970s. BYD, which stands for “Build Your Dreams,” could be a nightmare for the U.S. auto industry.
“Any car company that’s not paying attention to them as a competitor is going to be lost when they hit their market,” said Sam Fiorani, a vice president at AutoForecast Solutions near Philadelphia. “BYD’s entry into the U.S. market isn’t an if. It’s a when.”
U.S. politicians and manufacturers already see Chinese EVs as a serious threat. The Biden administration on Tuesday is expected to announce 100% tariffs on electric vehicles imported from China, saying they pose a threat to U.S. jobs and national security.
The Alliance for American Manufacturing says in a paper that government subsidized Chinese EVs “could end up being an extinction-level event for the U.S. auto sector.”
Earlier this year, Tesla CEO Elon Musk told industry analysts Chinese EVs are so good that without trade barriers, “they will pretty much demolish most other car companies in the world.”
Outside of China, EVs are often pricey, aimed at a higher-income niche market. But Chinese brands that are not yet global household names are offering affordable options that will appeal to the masses — just as the U.S., European and many other governments are encouraging a shift away from gasoline-powered vehicles to fight climate change.
“The Western markets did not democratize EVs. They gentrified EVs,” said Bill Russo, the founder of the Automobility Ltd. consultancy in Shanghai. “And when you gentrify, you limit the size of the market. China is all about democratizing EVs, and that’s what will ultimately lead Chinese companies to be successful as they go global.”
Inside a huge garage in an industrial area west of Detroit, a company called Caresoft Global tore apart and reassembled a bright green Seagull that its China office purchased and shipped to the U.S.
Company President Terry Woychowski, a former chief engineer on General Motors’ big pickup trucks, said the car is a “clarion call” for the U.S. auto industry, which is years behind China in designing low-cost EVs.
Sales staff stand near the Seagull electric vehicle from Chinese automaker BYD at a showroom in Beijing, Wednesday, April 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
After the teardown, Woychowski, who has been in the auto business for 45 years, said he was left wondering if U.S. automakers can adjust. “Things will have to change in some radical ways in order to be able to compete,” he said.
There’s no single miracle that explains how BYD can manufacture the Seagull for so little. Instead, Woychowski said the entire car, which can go 252 miles (405 kilometers) per charge, is “an exercise in efficiency.”
Higher U.S. labor costs are a part of the equation. BYD can keep costs down because of its expertise in making batteries — largely for consumer products — that use lithium iron phosphate chemistry. They cost less but have lower range than most current lithium-ion batteries.
BYD makes many of its own parts, including electric motors, dashboards, bodies and even headlights. It also has the advantage of its huge scale — 3 million vehicles sold worldwide last year.
“By having that all in-house and vertically integrated, there’s an incredible advantage that they have,” Woychowski said.
BYD designs all aspects of its vehicles with cost and efficiency in mind. For instance, the Seagull has only one windshield wiper, eliminating one motor and one arm, saving on weight, cost and labor to install.
U.S. automakers don’t often design vehicles this way and incur excess engineering costs, Woychowski said. Hoses, for instance, have to meet longstanding requirements in combustion engines for strength and ability to carry fluid under high pressure, many of which aren’t needed for electric vehicles, he added.
The weight savings add up, allowing the Seagull to travel farther per charge on a smaller battery. For example, the Seagull that Caresoft tested weighs 2,734 pounds (1,240 kilograms), about 900 pounds less than a Chevrolet Bolt, a slightly larger electric vehicle made by GM.
So Detroit needs to quickly re-learn a lot of design and engineering to keep up while shedding practices from a century of building vehicles. The trick will be determining which procedures to keep for safety and quality, and which to jettison because they aren’t needed, he said.
“You’re going to have to come and be extremely serious about this, and you better park your paradigms at the door,” Woychowski said. “Because you’re going to have to do things differently.”
Even with its minimalist design, the Seagull still has a quality feel. The doors close solidly. The gray synthetic leather seats have stitching that matches the body color, a feature usually found in more expensive cars. The Seagull “Flying Edition” tested by Caresoft has six air bags, rear disc brakes and electronic stability control.
A brief drive through some connected parking lots by a reporter showed that it runs quietly and handles curves and bumps as well as more costly electric vehicles.
While the acceleration isn’t head-snapping like other EVs, the Seagull is peppy and would have no problems entering a freeway in heavy traffic. Woychowski says its top speed is limited to 81 mph, (130 kilometers per hour).
Residents past by a Seagull electric vehicle from Chinese automaker BYD parked at a showroom in Beijing, Wednesday, April 10, 2024.(AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
BYD would have to modify its cars to meet U.S. safety standards, which are more stringent than in China. Woychowski says Caresoft hasn’t done crash tests, but he estimated that would add $2,000 to the Seagull’s cost.
BYD sells the Seagull, rebranded as the Dolphin Mini in some overseas markets, in four Latin American countries for about $21,000, twice what it costs at home. The higher price includes transportation costs, but also reflects the higher profits possible in less cutthroat markets than China.
In Europe, BYD offers larger models such as the Seal, which starts at 46,990 euros ($50,000), in France. The Chinese maker’s top two overseas markets were Thailand and Brazil in the first two months of this year, according to the China Passenger Car Association.
BYD builds electric buses in California and told the AP last year that it is “still in the process” of deciding whether to sell autos in the U.S. It is weighing sites for a factory in Mexico, but that would be for the Mexican market, two company executives said in media interviews earlier this year.
The company isn’t selling cars in the U.S., largely due to 27.5% tariffs on the sale price of Chinese vehicles when they arrive at ports. Donald Trump slapped on the bulk of the tariff, 25%, when he was president, and it was kept in place under Joe Biden. Trump contends that the rise of EVs backed by Biden will cost U.S. factory jobs, sending the work to China.
The Biden administration has backed legislation and policies to build a U.S. EV manufacturing base, and it hasn’t ruled out further tariffs to keep the Chinese out. The administration also is investigating cars made in China that can gather sensitive information.
Some members of Congress are urging Biden to ban imports of Chinese vehicles, while others have proposed even steeper tariffs. This includes vehicles made in Mexico by Chinese companies that now would come in largely without tariffs.
Ford CEO Jim Farley has seen Caresoft’s work on the Seagull and observed BYD’s rapid growth across the globe, especially in Europe, where he used to run Ford’s operations. He’s moving to change his company. A small “skunkworks” team is designing a new, small EV from the ground up to keep costs down and quality high, he told analysts earlier this year.
Chinese makers, Farley said, sold almost no EVs in Europe two years ago, but now they have 10% of the electric vehicle market. It’s likely they’ll export around the globe and possibly sell in the U.S.
Ford is preparing to counter that. “Don’t take anything for granted,” Farley said. “This CEO doesn’t.”
Koh Samui travel and tourism delegation welcomed 108 tourists and crew members of Scoot inaugural flight from Singapore at the Samui airport on May 13, 2024.
KOH SAMUI – Scoot, the low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, started the inaugural flight TR 642 flying directly from Singapore to Koh Samui, Surat Thani Province, at 11:15 a.m. on May 13.
The low-cost airline has operated flights from Singapore to six Southeast Asian destinations with its new fleet of Embraer E190-E2 planes.
Mr. Kampanat Klinsowakon, the district chief of Koh Samui, Ms. Kanokittika Kritayutthikorn, the director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Koh Samui Office, and a tourism delegation welcomed 108 tourists and crew members at the airport parking lot.
Among them were Mr. Ng Chee Keong, the Chief Operating Officer of Scoot, Mr. Kulpramote Wannalert, the director of the TAT Singapore and Philippines Office, and media representatives from Singapore. They traveled together to capture images of Koh Samui’s tourist attractions and impressive scenes to promote and market tourism in Singapore.
Scoot will commence daily flights on the Singapore-Samui route with one flight per day. There are plans to increase it to two flights per day in June.
The Embraer E190-E2 jet of Scoot arrives at Koh Samui International airport on May 13, 2024.
After the first E190-E2 jet is delivered in April, it has been used on Scoot’s existing flights to Hat Yai and Krabi from May 7, increasing flight frequencies to both destinations from seven to 10 times every week.
The E190-E2 jet has a range of 5,278km, or six hours of flight time. As the smallest aircraft in Scoot’s fleet, it can seat up to 112 passengers.
Scoot currently offers 67 destinations for booking and presently encompasses 72 destinations across 15 countries and territories in Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Europe.
