Abstract:
This study aims to investigate the attitudes of 400 SMEs towards electric vehicles (EVs) and their perceptions of the importance of the seven elements of the marketing mix. The SPSS program was used to analyze the data, including frequency, percentage, rating scale, mean, and standard deviation (S.D.). Relationships between variables were examined using the Chi-square test, t-test, and one-way ANOVA and pairwise differences were analyzed using Scheffes method, with statistical significance set at the 0.05 level.
The findings revealed that most respondents were male, aged between 25 and 35, held a bachelor's degree or lower, earned 30,00035,000 baht per month, resided in private homes within the Bangkok metropolitan area and operated production-related businesses.
Regarding attitudes towards EVs, most respondents currently use internal combustion engine vehicles, with Honda being the most commonly used brand. The main factor influencing brand consideration was brand reputation. The majority of these vehicles had been in use for 5 to 10 years. BYD emerged as the most recognized EV brand, with social media identified as the leading source of automotive information. Respondents perceived reduced pollution as the primary advantage of EVs and hybrid vehicles. However, internal combustion engine vehicles were seen as having better access to repair and maintenance services. BYD was the preferred future EV purchase option within the 1,000,001 - 2,000,000 baht price range, with fuel cost savings cited as the primary purchase motivation. Most respondents considered EVs to be of better quality than Hybrid vehicles.
The overall importance given to marketing mix elements for EVs was rated very high (x̄ = 4.58). In descending order of importance, respondents rated the following elements: People (x̄ = 4.62), Product (x̄ = 4.60), Process (x̄ = 4.60), Promotion (x̄ = 4.56), Profile (x̄ = 4.56), Place (x̄ = 4.56), and Price (x̄ = 0.54).
Analysis of the relationship between attitudes towards EVs and personal factors revealed that gender, age, education level, monthly income, residence location, housing type, and Type of business had a statistically significant relationship at the .05 level.
The comparison of the importance of the marketing mix based on personal demographic factors revealed that respondents with different levels of age, education level, monthly income, residence location, housing type, and Type of business had significantly different perceived importance of the marketing mix at the .05 level.
The comparison of the importance of the marketing mix based on attitudes towards EVs vehicles, classified into three groups: Group 1 believed that EVs were of higher quality than Hybrid vehicles, Group 2 believed that EVs are of similar quality to Hybrid vehicles, and Group 3 believes that EVs are of lower quality than Hybrid vehicles, showed that attitudes towards EVs vehicles significantly affect the importance of the marketing mix at the .05 level.