The Philippines' Department of Budget and Management recently announced a proposal to allocate 228.92 million pesos (approximately 4 million USD) for the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Program in 2027. This amount is more than seven times the 32.46 million pesos allocated this year. The new budget is expected to support the expansion of charging infrastructure at several government agencies and the establishment of electric vehicle charging system testing facilities.

According to the department, the proposed increase of 605.17% compared to 2026 aims to support projects for deploying charging infrastructure at government agencies and enhancing equipment testing capabilities. This is part of the 2027 national expenditure plan and is not yet an approved budget.

This increased investment comes as electric vehicle demand in the Philippines expands. According to Reuters on 8/10, the number of registered electric vehicles in the country exceeded 67,000 units in the first eight months of the year, a 130% increase compared to the same period last year. Electric vehicles accounted for nearly 25% of passenger oto sales during this period, as rising gasoline prices have led consumers to show greater interest in electric-powered vehicles.

A taxi operated by Green Smart Mobility (GSM), an affiliate of VinFast, on the streets of Manila on 10/12/2025. Photo: Nikkei Asia

The Philippines also implements policies supporting industry development. On 29/7, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order 121, establishing the Electric Vehicle Incentive Strategy (EVIS) Program. This program provides time-bound fiscal incentives for the domestic manufacturing of battery electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, commercial vehicles, and components. The government aims to attract investment, create jobs, and increase domestic production capacity.

In India, the government allocated 20 billion rupees (209 million USD) under the PM E-Drive program to develop a public charging station network. According to India's Ministry of Heavy Industries, as of 21/7, the country has 52,718 public charging stations, of which 16,561 stations have fast chargers for oto.

Under the PM E-Drive program, in addition to charging infrastructure, India also allocates budget to support various categories of electric vehicles, including two-wheelers, three-wheelers, buses, and trucks. The program has a total scale of 10,900 crore rupees, implemented from 2024 until 3/2028, combining consumer incentives with the development of the domestic supply chain and manufacturing capacity.

An electric vehicle charging station by the roadside in India. Photo: Economic Times

A similar scenario unfolds in Thailand. The government is considering a plan valued at 24 billion baht (approximately 714 million USD) to replace up to 80,000 older vehicles with electric ones. According to Reuters on 23/7, the initial proposal targets commercial transport vehicles such as taxis, tuk-tuks, motorcycles, buses, and trucks. Support options may include subsidies, low-interest loans, and tax incentives, while prioritizing domestically manufactured vehicles and local components.

As one of the rapidly developing markets, Vietnam aims for 50% of urban vehicles and all buses and taxis to be electric by 2030. By 2050, all transport vehicles will be converted to run on electricity or green energy. To establish a charging station network for these vehicles, Vietnam will need to spend 2.2 billion USD by 2030. This figure will increase to nearly 14 billion USD by 2040 and 32.6 billion USD by 2050, according to World Bank estimates.

In fact, compared to many countries, Vietnam's charging station system is among the leading, with over 150,000 V-Green charging ports covering 34 provinces and cities. This has also been a basis for an increasing number of Vietnamese users to confidently make the green transition recently.

However, policies in the Philippines, India, and Thailand indicate that the focus of electric vehicle development is expanding from buyer support to building an entire ecosystem, including charging infrastructure, manufacturing, and operational services. This also presents a challenge for Vietnam as its market grows and the demand for investment in the charging network increases.

Thai Anh