Author: Dimas Mahendra

Chery has begun local assembly of its V23 electric sport utility vehicle (SUV) in Thailand, expanding its manufacturing footprint in Southeast Asia as it increases production capacity in the region. Thailand becomes the second ASEAN country after Indonesia to produce the V23 locally, supporting the company’s strategy to strengthen regional operations. New Rayong Plant Starts Production The V23 is expected to be assembled at Chery’s recently inaugurated manufacturing facility in Nikhom Phatthana district in Rayong province. The factory, which officially opened in April, is focused on completely knocked down (CKD) vehicle assembly. According to local media reports, the site is…

Grab plans to expand its electric vehicle charging network in Vietnam from approximately 400 charging ports to more than 6,000 by 2028, with nearly half of the new infrastructure to be installed in Hanoi. The expansion follows an agreement signed between Grab Vietnam and the Hanoi city government in late June 2026 to promote green transportation, digital tourism and broader digital transformation initiatives. Under Hanoi’s roadmap, fossil fuel-powered motorcycles will gradually face tighter restrictions, with only motorcycles meeting Euro 3 emissions standards permitted to enter the capital from 2028. Supporting the EV Transition Grab said the expanded charging network will…

Hyundai has started local assembly of the Ioniq 5 in Thailand, allowing the automaker to reduce the electric SUV’s selling price as it expands its presence in one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing electric vehicle markets. The locally assembled Ioniq 5 is priced at 1.699 million baht, compared with 1.988 million baht for the previously imported model from South Korea. The reduction of 289,000 baht, or about 15%, reflects the cost savings achieved through domestic production. Local Production Reduces Purchase Price To support the launch, Hyundai is offering an introductory discount of 300,000 baht for the first 400 customers purchasing the…

Chinese state-owned automaker FAW has officially introduced its luxury Hongqi brand to Thailand, launching the all-electric Hongqi E-HS9 as its first model in the market. FAW has appointed Metro Group as the brand’s official distributor and strategic partner in Thailand, marking the latest step in the company’s international expansion. The Hongqi E-HS9 is available in Thailand in a single six-seat configuration with an introductory price of 2.99 million baht (approximately €79,300) for the first 400 vehicles. The company has not yet announced the standard retail price that will apply after the initial launch offer. Launch Package and Dealer Expansion Customers…

Pony.ai and ComfortDelGro have opened their autonomous ride service in Singapore’s Punggol district to public bookings, allowing passengers to reserve driverless rides through the Zig mobile application from June 22, 2026. The launch marks the transition from an invitation-only pilot program to a broader commercial rollout as the companies continue expanding autonomous mobility services in Singapore. Public Access Through Zig App Passengers can now book rides using ComfortDelGro’s Zig app and travel in Zig-branded vehicles equipped with Pony.ai’s autonomous driving technology. The service operates along a fixed route in northern Punggol, connecting residential neighborhoods with major destinations including Punggol Coast…

Vietnamese transportation company Huy Long has signed an agreement to purchase 2,000 electric vehicles from domestic automaker VinFast, marking one of the latest large-scale fleet electrification initiatives in the country. The vehicles will be deployed in phases across Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and several provinces in central Vietnam as part of Huy Long’s strategy to modernize its transportation operations and reduce reliance on internal combustion engine vehicles. Green SM to Support Fleet Operations To support the rollout, Huy Long has partnered with Green SM, the electric mobility platform backed by Vingroup. Under the agreement, Green SM will provide technology…

Nissan has confirmed plans to launch its N7 electric sedan in the Philippines under the revived Primera EV nameplate, making the Southeast Asian nation the first international market to receive the China-developed model. The Japanese automaker showcased the Primera EV at the tenth Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS), signaling its intention to expand the N7 beyond China as part of its broader electrification strategy. The Primera name was previously used on Nissan’s internal combustion engine-powered sedans, liftbacks and estate cars sold globally between the 1990s and early 2000s. The company is now reviving the badge for an all-electric successor. Launch…

Xpeng has produced its first locally assembled G6 SUV in Malaysia, marking a significant milestone in the Chinese electric vehicle maker’s regional expansion strategy and strengthening its presence in Southeast Asia. The company announced on Friday that the first Malaysia-assembled G6 rolled off the production line at its local manufacturing partner, EP Manufacturing Bhd (EPMB), describing the achievement as an important step in its ASEAN growth plans. Local Production Begins in Malaysia The assembly program stems from a strategic partnership signed between Xpeng and EPMB in late 2025. Under the agreement, EPMB’s wholly owned subsidiary PJVM is responsible for assembling…

Nissan has unveiled two China-developed vehicles at the 10th Philippine International Motor Show, marking the first public demonstration of its new “From China” export strategy and signaling a broader shift in how the automaker intends to leverage its Chinese operations for global markets. The two models, the Navara Pro Plug-in Hybrid pickup and the Primera EV sedan, represent the first vehicles developed in China that Nissan plans to introduce internationally under the strategy. China Becomes Global Export Base The initiative reflects a significant evolution in Nissan’s global manufacturing and product development approach, positioning China not only as one of the…

Stellantis has started local assembly of Leapmotor electric vehicles in Malaysia, producing the Leapmotor C10 SUV at its Gurun manufacturing facility in Kedah as part of efforts to strengthen its presence in Southeast Asia’s growing electric vehicle market. The company said the Leapmotor B10 is expected to join production at the plant by the end of 2026, expanding the lineup assembled in Malaysia. The move marks a new phase in the partnership between Stellantis and Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Leapmotor, with Malaysia being positioned as a key manufacturing base for the ASEAN region. Investment Supports Local EV Production Stellantis said…

LG Energy Solution, Honda and the City of Hanoi have signed a memorandum of understanding to launch a battery-swapping pilot program for electric two-wheelers in Vietnam’s capital, marking a new step in efforts to expand electric mobility infrastructure in one of the world’s largest motorcycle markets. The initiative will deploy approximately 50 battery-swapping stations and 500 battery-swappable electric two-wheelers across Hanoi as part of an initial demonstration phase. Under the agreement, LG Energy Solution will supply cylindrical 2170 battery cells and oversee infrastructure operations, battery lifecycle management and safety systems. Honda will provide the electric vehicles and battery exchange technology,…

Green GSM Philippines and Philippine National Bank (PNB) have entered into a financial and digital banking partnership designed to support the expansion of Green GSM’s all-electric ride-hailing operations across the country. Under the agreement, PNB will provide a credit facility as well as digital banking services for Green GSM’s driver network. The partnership also includes account management and payment solutions through PNB’s corporate banking platform, which the companies said will help reduce account activation times and improve operational efficiency. Partnership Supports Electric Mobility Growth The collaboration comes as Green GSM continues to expand its presence in the Philippines’ electric mobility…