Thai supermarket chain TOPS, a subsidiary of Central Retail, announced Thursday it will nearly double its electric vehicle (EV) delivery fleet by the end of the year. The addition of 20 new EV trucks aims to mitigate the impact of volatile global energy prices on its logistics network and stabilize supply chain operations across Bangkok and key national regions.
The planned expansion will increase the retailer’s commercial EV fleet from 24 to 44 vehicles. These trucks are currently utilized for both temperature-controlled and ambient product distribution to TOPS, TOPS FOOD HALL, and TOPS DAILY branches.
In 2025, the company’s existing EV fleet traveled over 1.68 million kilometers. TOPS reported this resulted in annual fuel savings of 262,568 liters and a reduction of 690 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions.
By scaling up to 44 vehicles, the company targets a reduction in fuel consumption of 457,000 liters and a cut in greenhouse gas emissions of 1,202 tonnes of CO2e in 2026. Furthermore, management indicated a contingency plan is in place to deploy an additional 20 EV trucks as a special measure should oil prices reach critical levels.
The operational shift aligns with broader commercial transportation trends in Thailand. According to data from the Federation of Thai Industries cited by the company, commercial heavy EV truck registrations rose by 38.39% year-on-year by the end of 2025, while electric pick-up trucks and vans surged by 77.22%.
“Global energy uncertainty and rising oil prices have placed significant pressure on operating costs and consumer living expenses,” said Thanawat Jirajariyavej, Managing Director of Central Food Retail. He noted that integrating EV trucks into the supply chain is a necessary mechanism to control logistics costs and prevent fuel fluctuations from disrupting product replenishment.
The fleet expansion is part of the company’s broader environmental strategy, which includes a long-term goal of reaching Net Zero emissions by 2050.
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