Under military rule in Myanmar, electric vehicles (EVs) enjoy a unique privilege, standing out among the wide variety of goods imported into the country.
Compared to other necessities and luxuries, they are relatively easy to import. Battery EVs and their batteries are exempted from commercial tax and special goods tax.
Since the 2021 coup, all goods requiring dollars, including necessities like fuel, cooking oil and pharmaceuticals, can only be imported with approval from the junta-controlled Foreign Exchange Supervisory Committee. Import permits issued by the Commerce Ministry are useless without the committee’s approval for dollar spending.
Why is the EV business privileged? The answer lies in the fact that junta boss Min Aung Hlaing’s children, Aung Pyae Sone and Khin Thiri Thet Mon, run EV import businesses. Hence, junta-controlled media have heavily promoted the merits of EVs.
Aung Pyae Sone and Khin Thiri Thet Mon run separate companies importing EVs. The two companies have shipped in over 1,200 EVs combined, making them the second and third largest EV importers in Myanmar.
Aung Pyae Sone’s business partners include the son of the junta’s military intelligence chief, Lieutenant-General Ye Win Oo, along with singer Ah Boy, Okkar Aye, Ye Kan Zaw and Kyi Thar Han.
Okkar Aye is the son of former Lieutenant-General Tin Aye, who served as quartermaster-general under the previous military regime, the State Law and Order Restoration Council, or SLORC.
Ye Kan Zaw is the son of the current junta’s investment and foreign economic relations minister, Dr. Kan Zaw. Kyi Thar Han is the son of retired colonel Chit Han, while Ah Boy is the son of leading businessman Sein Wan.
Kyi Thar Han serves as the frontman for their EV business, according to industry insiders, and lists himself as executive director of Amazing Auto Co in his Facebook profile.
Ah Boy, a shareholder in the business, signed the partnership agreement between Amazing Auto and AYA Bank.
Aung Pyae Sone’s company is Myanmar’s sole importer of BYD brand EVs, shipping 671 of the Chinese-made vehicles as of May 2024.
Reports indicate he also imports MG EVs, and has a stake in MG Myanmar Co, which brings in MG EVs.
Khin Thiri Thet Mon owns N.P.K. Motors Co Ltd. The other key shareholder is Naing Phyi Kyaw, the husband of movie star Wutt Home Shwe Yi. Naing Phyo Kyaw also has a stake in 7 Sense Film Production, one of Khin Thiri Thet Mon’s main businesses.
N.P.K Motors Co imports MG brand EVs and operates charging stations in Naypyitaw and other cities. The company had brought in 542 MG EVs as of May 2024.
Running charging stations also has another benefit: The ability to seize land, using the stations as a pretext. This land-grabbing opportunity is one reason why Min Aung Hlaing is promoting EVs in Myanmar despite serious power outages that are severely affecting people from all walks of life.
Aung Pyae Sone and Khin Thiri Thet Mon have amassed impressive wealth since Min Aung Hlaing became military chief in 2011, emerging as top cronies in Myanmar while barely in their 40s.
