Author: Dimas Mahendra

Ho Chi Minh City has launched 25 new electric bus routes, introducing hundreds of battery-electric buses into operation as part of efforts to transition its public transport system away from fossil fuels. Vietnamnet reported that the city’s transport authority confirmed the routes began service on March 1. Operating rights were awarded through tenders to VinBus Ecology Transport Services and Phuong Trang Passenger Transport Joint Stock Company, which will manage nine and 16 routes respectively. See also: Vietnam’s GSM Weighs Hong Kong IPO as EV Taxi Operator Seeks Overseas Expansion The expansion builds on earlier plans announced as far back as…

Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN), Indonesia’s state-owned electricity provider, has inaugurated what it says is the country’s fastest electric vehicle charging station, developed in partnership with Mega Energi Biru Indonesia (MEBI) and Huawei Digital Power. The facility, branded Zora Signature, is located in Kabupaten Tangerang in Banten Province, about 25 kilometres southwest of Jakarta. It is the first charging station in Indonesia to offer ultra-fast split charging technology with liquid cooling. The site is equipped with eight DC ultra-fast chargers providing a total of 12 charging points, along with one AC fast charger. Each DC unit can deliver up to 480…

China’s FAW Group has appointed Thailand’s Metro Group as the official distributor for its premium Hongqi brand in the country, as the state-backed automaker accelerates its push into Southeast Asia. The agreement was signed through FAW Group Import & Export Co., Ltd. (FAWIEC), the company’s wholly owned subsidiary responsible for overseas operations. Metro Group already represents several international carmakers in Thailand, including Toyota Motor, Mitsubishi Motors, Honda Motor, and Mercedes-Benz, and also operates dealerships for the Chinese electric brand Zeekr. FAWIEC had initially considered managing Thai operations directly but opted for a distributor model, which it also uses in Europe,…

Chinese electric vehicle maker Zeekr plans to relaunch its presence in Indonesia at the Indonesia International Motor Show in 2026, introducing two battery-electric models as it seeks to expand in Southeast Asia’s largest automotive market. The company intends to begin sales of the Zeekr 7X sport utility vehicle and the Zeekr 009 luxury multipurpose vehicle while building its own retail and service network rather than relying solely on third-party distributors. Alex Bao, managing director of Zeekr Southeast Asia, said the automaker aims to open up to 20 showrooms nationwide by 2027, with about half scheduled to launch this year. Zeekr…

BYD has surpassed 5,000 cumulative vehicle sales in Vietnam, marking a milestone for the Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) maker in Southeast Asia, according to a report by Yiche. In 2025, its first full year operating in the Vietnamese market, BYD sold 3,718 vehicles in the country. The company had previously sold 485 units in 2024 after entering the market in June of that year. See also: BYD Officially Unveils Sealion 7 in Indonesia, Expanding Its Reach in Southeast Asia BYD launched its first three models in Vietnam in July 2024: the Dolphin compact hatchback, the Seal mid-size sedan, and…

Vietnam-based electric vehicle maker VinFast said it expects to deliver about 300,000 electric vehicles worldwide this year, underscoring a sharp acceleration in volumes as the company focuses its expansion strategy on Asia. The target represents a significant increase from the nearly 197,000 vehicles delivered in 2025 and reflects VinFast’s emphasis on markets such as India, Indonesia and the Philippines, where electric vehicle adoption is rising and competitive pressures are less intense than in North America and Europe. See also: VinFast Doubles Domestic EV Sales as Demand Concentrates on Lower-Priced Models In addition to passenger cars, VinFast expects deliveries of its…

SAIC-GM-Wuling said its manufacturing base in Indonesia has shipped its first batch of Binguo electric vehicles to Pakistan, marking a new phase in the Chinese automaker’s overseas expansion strategy and the formal launch of its local partnership in South Asia. The vehicles rolled off the production line at Wuling’s Indonesian plant before being dispatched to Pakistan, the company said, adding that the project marks the operational start of cooperation with local partner JW SEZ. Financial details of the partnership were not disclosed. The Indonesian operation, run by SAIC-GM-Wuling’s Wuling brand, has become a central pillar of the group’s international strategy,…

Hesai Technology has appointed Grab as its exclusive distributor for lidar sensors in Southeast Asia, expanding the availability of the technology for robotics, autonomous mobility and mapping applications across the region. Under the strategic partnership, Grab will manage sales, customer support and marketing for Hesai’s lidar products across Southeast Asia’s eight-country market. The companies said the agreement is intended to accelerate adoption of lidar hardware as demand rises for automation and artificial intelligence-driven systems. See also: Hesai Selected by Nvidia as LiDAR Partner for Drive Hyperion L4 Platform “By expanding access to world-class lidar technology in Southeast Asia, Grab is…

Chinese lithium battery maker Eve Energy has taken a further step in its overseas expansion by backing a new partnership in Indonesia aimed at building a fully integrated new energy industry chain, according to details released this week. On Jan. 30, HYD Investment Limited — a joint venture formed by Eve Energy, Huayou Cobalt and PT Daaz Bara Lestari — signed a framework agreement with Indonesia’s state-controlled miner ANTAM and Indonesia Battery Corporation. The agreement brings together multiple partners to develop an end-to-end industrial ecosystem covering nickel resources, battery materials, manufacturing and recycling. See also: Eve Energy Breaks Ground on…

Nio has begun deliveries of its premium compact car brand Firefly in Singapore, following the brand’s official entry into the city-state last month, the company said. The first batch of right-hand-drive Firefly electric vehicles was formally delivered on Sunday, according to a post by the Nio sub-brand on Weibo. Firefly did not disclose the number of vehicles included in the initial deliveries. See also: Nio’s Firefly Brand Reaches 40,000 Vehicle Deliveries Singapore is the first market to receive the right-hand-drive version of the Firefly EV. The model made its public debut at the Singapore Motorshow 2026 on January 8, when…

Chinese e-mobility specialist Westwell has secured an order for 60 battery-electric terminal trucks from Westports Malaysia, as the port advances its decarbonisation and fleet electrification programme. The vehicles, known as E-Trucks, will be deployed alongside automated battery-swapping infrastructure to support continuous terminal operations with minimal downtime. Each truck is powered by a 282 kWh battery and is designed for an operating range of up to 150 kilometres under typical terminal duty cycles, the companies said. See also: Wuling BingoEV Enters Local Production In Malaysia Under SGMW Integration Strategy Energy supply will be supported by automated battery-swapping stations capable of completing…

Thai electric vehicle charging provider Sharge has partnered with ride-hailing company Grab to develop a dedicated EV charging network for Grab drivers in Thailand, committing more than 400 million baht ($10.7 million) to the project, the companies said. Under an initial pilot programme, Sharge will install three Grab-exclusive charging stations — at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Don Mueang Airport, and in Pattaya. More than 60% of Grab drivers operating in these areas have already adopted electric vehicles, according to the companies. See also: Momenta Receives Strategic Funding From Grab to Target Southeast Asian Markets Sharge plans to scale the network to 40…