End of life vehicles directive and evaluation of potential management of Thai automotive industry

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to study the impact of the End of Life Vehicles directive (ELV directive) on the Thai automotive industry and to evaluate potential management of end of life vehicles (ELVs) in Thailand. The research was divided into 2 parts. The first part was survey research. The data were collected from 113 Thai automotive entrepreneurs by questionnaire. The statistics were frequency and percentage. The second part was descriptive research by gathering and analyzing the relevant primary and secondary data about the management of ELVs in Thailand. The results of the study indicated that Thai automotive entrepreneurs received impacts from the ELV directive at a medium level, the average score was 2.94. The readiness for undertaking ELV directive was at medium level, the average score was 3.22. Problems and obstacles in the adaptation for ELV directive implementation were knowledge/understanding level of each organization about ELV directive enforcement (72.70%), high cost of non-hazardous substances materials/components (70.10%) and high cost in the testing of hazardous substance quality (63.60%). Regarding the management of ELVs in Thailand, it was found that there was no direct law for ELVs management. The control and management of industrial hazardous waste were not systematic. Technology and knowledge is still dependent on foreigners.