Author: Dimas Mahendra

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…

VinFast has announced a collaboration with Autobrains and Nvidia to develop a Level 4 autonomous driving program for Southeast Asia, as the Vietnamese electric vehicle manufacturer seeks to advance autonomous mobility technologies in one of the world’s most challenging traffic environments. The initiative, unveiled at GTC Taipei, will be built on Nvidia’s Drive Hyperion 10 platform and combines Autobrains’ Agentic AI software with Nvidia’s autonomous driving hardware and software ecosystem. The companies said the program will focus on validating autonomous driving capabilities in Southeast Asia’s dense and often unpredictable traffic conditions. Targeting Complex Urban Environments Southeast Asia presents a unique…

Vietnamese automaker VinFast has unveiled the second-generation VinFast VF 8 electric sport utility vehicle, with the redesigned model set to launch first in the company’s domestic market. The new VF 8 features a smaller overall footprint compared with the outgoing version. VinFast said the vehicle measures 4.70 metres in length, 1.87 metres in width and 1.67 metres in height, making it shorter and narrower than the previous generation while slightly taller. The wheelbase has also been reduced by 11 centimetres to 2.84 metres. Despite the smaller dimensions, VinFast said the redesigned model adopts a more dynamic exterior design inspired by…

Chinese commercial vehicle and heavy equipment manufacturer Sany has entered Vietnam’s electric heavy-duty truck market with the launch of its EV550 electric tractor truck, as the company expands its presence in Southeast Asia’s commercial vehicle sector. Sany said it has already secured orders for more than 100 electric heavy-duty trucks in Vietnam following the market launch. The company appointed Hung Thinh EV Truck, a subsidiary of Vietnamese conglomerate Hung Thinh, as the exclusive distributor for its electric tractor trucks in the country. According to Sany, Vietnamese cement producer Long Son Cement placed an order for 100 electric heavy-duty trucks on…

Vietnamese electric vehicle manufacturer VinFast said it has appointed Pham Nhat Quan Anh as chairman of the company’s board of directors, effective May 23, 2026, as the automaker enters what it described as its next phase of global expansion. Pham Nhat Quan Anh replaces Le Thi Thu Thuy, who will step down as chairwoman and member of VinFast’s board. VinFast said Le Thi Thu Thuy will continue serving as vice chairwoman of Vingroup, where she will focus on strategic priorities for the group. Pham Nhat Quan Anh currently serves as vice chairman and standing deputy general director at VinFast Trading…

Chinese automaker SAIC Motor has started local assembly of the MG4 EV Urban in Thailand ahead of the electric hatchback’s market launch, marking the first time the new-generation model is being produced outside China. The vehicle is being assembled from completely knocked-down (CKD) kits at a manufacturing facility in Chonburi Province operated through a joint venture between SAIC and Charoen Pokphand Group. The MG4 EV Urban becomes the third MG-branded electric vehicle to enter local production in Thailand following the MG4 EV and MG S5 EV, which began production in 2023 and 2025 respectively. While previous media reports suggested SAIC…

Vietnamese electric vehicle manufacturer VinFast has signed memorandums of understanding with 29 after-sales partners across North America, Europe, the Middle East, India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Kazakhstan as the company accelerates expansion of its global service network. VinFast said it plans to operate more than 1,100 workshops globally during 2026 through a combination of dealership service centres, fleet-support facilities and authorised third-party repair partners depending on the market. The agreements were signed during a VinFast global partner event attended by more than 200 investors, distributors, dealers and service providers. In the United States, VinFast is expanding service coverage through a…

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD has delivered its 10,000th new energy vehicle in Cambodia, marking a milestone for the company six years after entering the Southeast Asian market. The milestone vehicle was the Fangchengbao Ti 7 sport utility vehicle, one of BYD’s newer models being promoted in overseas markets. BYD officially entered Cambodia in 2020 through local partner Hramony Auto, which opened the company’s first 4S dealership and began sales operations in the country. The automaker’s market presence expanded from 2022 following the introduction of the ATTO 3, marketed in China as the Yuan Plus, helping the company gain momentum…

Volvo Cars is facing legal action in Thailand after two fires involving its Volvo EX30 occurred months after the company issued a global recall linked to battery fire risks. Thailand’s Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB) has filed a civil lawsuit against Volvo following the incidents, according to local authorities and Reuters. The first fire reportedly occurred in Bangkok around March 25, while the second took place on May 15 when an EX30 was charging at a customer’s home. Authorities said the second fire spread to a nearby Ford Ranger and also damaged part of the property. Volvo had…

VinFast has started local production of the VinFast VF MPV 7 at its manufacturing plant in West Java, expanding the company’s production operations in the Indonesian market. The VF MPV 7 rolled off the production line at VinFast’s Subang facility less than six months after the plant was officially inaugurated in December 2025. The seven-seat electric multi-purpose vehicle joins the VinFast VF 3, VinFast VF 5, VinFast VF 6 and VinFast VF 7 among the models currently being produced at the site. VinFast said the Subang plant covers 171 hectares and is expected to receive more than $1 billion in…

Hanoi has partnered with LG Energy Solution and Honda to develop a large-scale battery-swapping network for electric motorcycles in the Vietnamese capital. The project is scheduled to begin with a pilot phase in the third quarter of 2026, involving around 50 battery-swapping stations and approximately 500 electric motorcycles in central Hanoi. The initial deployment will focus on areas around Hoan Kiem ward, where Hanoi authorities plan to introduce low-emission regulations as part of broader urban emissions reduction efforts. Following an evaluation period, the partners plan to expand the network beginning in the third quarter of 2027, targeting approximately 1,000 battery-swapping…

BYD has introduced its Dual Mode (DM) hybrid technology in Indonesia, marking the company’s expansion beyond battery-electric vehicles in Southeast Asia’s largest automotive market. The company unveiled the technology during an event held in Jakarta on May 18, according to a statement released on Thursday. BYD said the move reflects its strategy of offering both battery-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles to address differing market conditions and consumer needs globally, including in Indonesia. The first model equipped with the company’s DM technology in Indonesia is the BYD M6 DM, a multi-purpose vehicle that is not currently sold in China.…

VinFast has signed an agreement to supply 1,500 electric vehicles to Vietnamese taxi operator Taxi Huong Giang, as the transport company accelerates plans to fully electrify its fleet. The agreement was signed on May 11 and will support Taxi Huong Giang’s transition away from internal combustion engine vehicles. The company already operates more than 500 electric vehicles and said the latest purchase will increase its fleet of zero-emission vehicles to more than 2,000 units. Taxi Huong Giang has been operating VinFast EVs in the former Bac Giang province since 2024 and now plans to expand electric taxi operations across Bac…

Vietnamese electric mobility company Green SM said it plans to deploy up to 18,497 electric vehicles from VinFast across the Philippines through partnerships with local transport operators and cooperatives. The initiative, announced through agreements with 75 transport companies and cooperatives, could become the largest bulk order for VinFast electric vehicles in the Philippine market. Green SM said the local partners operate in Metro Manila as well as several cities and provinces including Bacolod, Baguio, Batangas, Cagayan de Oro, Cavite, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Ozamiz and Pampanga. The company said demand for cleaner transportation and mobility services has been increasing across these…

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Xpeng has acquired a controlling stake in an automotive manufacturing entity under Indonesia’s Erajaya Group, as the company accelerates efforts to expand localized production in Southeast Asia’s largest automotive market. According to a filing submitted to the Indonesia Stock Exchange on Monday, PT Sinar Eka Selaras Tbk, also known as Erajaya Active Lifestyle (ERAL), transferred a 90.1% stake in PT Era Industri Otomotif (EIDO) to Xpeng. The transaction, which became effective on May 13, involved 154,072 shares. Following the deal, Xpeng International Holding (Hong Kong) Limited now holds a 90.1% controlling stake in EIDO, while ERAL…