Author: Dimas Mahendra

Nio said on Thursday that its premium compact electric vehicle brand Firefly has made its overseas debut at the Singapore Motorshow 2026, marking the first right-hand drive model launched by the Chinese automaker as it steps up global expansion. Pre-orders for the right-hand drive Firefly EV have opened in Singapore, making the city-state the first market to receive the model. Nio is partnering with local automotive retailer Wearnes Automotive, founded in 1906, which represents and retails several premium and luxury vehicle brands. The approach reflects Nio’s broader strategy of relying on distributors in overseas markets rather than pursuing capital-intensive direct…

VinFast said it expects to deliver about 170,000 vehicles in Vietnam in 2025, nearly doubling its domestic deliveries from the previous year, underscoring its continued reliance on its home market as international expansion remains challenging. The Vietnamese electric vehicle maker has struggled to gain traction overseas, particularly in North America, where competition is intense and consumer adoption of newer EV brands has been slower than anticipated. VinFast did not disclose expected international delivery figures for 2025. See also: VinFast Plans To Lift Indonesia Investment To $1 Billion, Local CEO Says VinFast’s U.S.-listed shares fell about 17% last year after dropping…

Chinese battery-swapping technology provider U Power Limited has signed an agreement with Whale Logistics Group to deploy up to 1,000 battery-swapping electric truck tractors in Thailand, with the first vehicles scheduled to enter service in April 2026, the companies said. The partnership represents U Power’s first large-scale commercial move into Southeast Asia and is aimed at supporting Thailand’s push to decarbonize heavy-duty freight transport. Initial deliveries will begin with around 30 trucks, with a phased rollout planned thereafter, focusing on major logistics hubs including the Eastern Economic Corridor and the port of Laem Chabang. Under the agreement, Whale Logistics will…

VinFast said it has produced its 200,000th electric vehicle at its Hai Phong manufacturing complex in 2025, marking a major production milestone as the company consolidates its position as Vietnam’s top-selling automotive brand. The vehicles produced at the Hai Phong plant this year include both units sold domestically and those exported to overseas markets. VinFast said the milestone comes after more than a year in which it has led Vietnam’s automotive market by a wide margin, driven by growing consumer adoption of electric vehicles. See also: VinFast Opens $300 Million EV Plant in Indonesia, Targets Major Localisation Push The 200,000th…

Vietnamese electric vehicle taxi operator Green and Smart Mobility (GSM) is considering a potential initial public offering in Hong Kong, people familiar with the matter said, in what could become the first listing in the city by a company from Vietnam. The company, which operates under the Vingroup umbrella, is targeting a valuation of around $2 billion to $3 billion in a possible IPO that could take place in late 2026 or early 2027, according to two sources with knowledge of the plans. One source said GSM aims to raise at least $200 million, while another noted that the valuation…

Chinese automaker Changan Automobile has begun exporting vehicles from its manufacturing plant in Thailand, marking a new step in the company’s overseas expansion and making it the latest Chinese carmaker to use the country as a regional export base. Changan said its Rayong plant has shipped its first batch of locally produced Deepal S05 vehicles to Europe. Images released by the company showed an initial shipment of around 500 vehicles, though no further export details were disclosed. See also: Changan’s Deepal Completes $874 Million Funding Round to Support Expansion The move follows a broader trend among Chinese automakers establishing production…

Vietnamese electric vehicle maker VinFast has inaugurated a new electric vehicle manufacturing plant in Subang, West Java, marking its first production facility in Southeast Asia outside Vietnam and a major expansion of its global manufacturing footprint. The Subang plant, built on a 171-hectare site, represents an initial investment of more than $300 million and provides annual production capacity of 50,000 vehicles, VinFast said. The company plans to expand the site in later phases to reach 350,000 vehicles per year, with total investment expected to exceed $1 billion. See also: VinFast Scales Back North American Push as Focus Shifts Toward Asia…

Chinese autonomous driving startup Momenta said it has received a strategic investment from Southeast Asian super app Grab, deepening Grab’s involvement in autonomous mobility following a similar investment in WeRide. Momenta announced the investment on Thursday without disclosing the amount. The companies said the partnership will focus on accelerating the adoption of autonomous driving technologies in Southeast Asia, particularly in densely populated cities with complex traffic conditions. See also: Mercedes-Benz and Momenta to Launch Robotaxi Service in Abu Dhab Grab, which operates a super app integrating ride-hailing, food delivery and digital payments across the region, will work with Momenta to…

Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio said it will enter the Thai market next year, marking its first expansion into Southeast Asia beyond Singapore and its most ambitious regional move to date. The company plans to introduce all three of its brands — Nio, Onvo, and Firefly — in Thailand, with the compact Firefly electric car set to launch first as the group targets younger consumers. Thailand will be the first Southeast Asian market for both the Nio and Onvo brands, though the company has not yet disclosed the rollout sequence or model lineup for those marques. See also: Nio Launches…

Vietnamese electric vehicle maker VinFast plans to increase its investment in Indonesia to as much as $1 billion, the head of its local unit said on Monday, as the company expands manufacturing capacity in Southeast Asia’s largest economy. The comments came as VinFast Indonesia inaugurated its first manufacturing plant in the country, located in Subang, West Java, with an initial production capacity of 50,000 vehicles per year. See also: VinFast Launches VF 7 Electric SUV in Indonesia “VinFast will continue to increase its investment to $1 billion, with an increase in production capacity to 350,000 per year,” Kariyanto Hardjosoemarto, chief…

Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng said it has officially entered into a strategic partnership with EP Manufacturing Berhad (EPMB) to establish localized vehicle production in Malacca, Malaysia, with mass production scheduled to begin in 2026. The project will mark Xpeng’s third localized manufacturing initiative globally and its second in the Asia-Pacific region, following earlier projects in Indonesia and Austria, the company said. The Malaysian facility is designed to complement Xpeng’s existing operations in Europe and across the Asia-Pacific region, supporting an integrated ecosystem that combines localized production, sales, charging services and user operations. Under the agreement, Xpeng will leverage EPMB’s…

Grab Vietnam and regional charging operator Charge+ said they have signed a partnership to develop an electric vehicle charging and battery swapping network in Vietnam, targeting electric cars, motorcycles and e-scooters as the country pushes toward net-zero emissions. The collaboration will combine Grab’s ride-hailing platform, data capabilities and local market reach with Charge+’s experience in deploying charging infrastructure across Southeast Asia, the companies said. The partners aim to address gaps in charging availability while supporting Grab’s driver-partners and broader EV adoption. See also: Grab to Introduce 50 Maxus MIFA 9 Electric MPVs in Indonesia for Premium Ride Service Under the…

Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng is in negotiations with EP Manufacturing Bhd (EPMB) to begin electric vehicle production in Malaysia, with mass production expected to start in 2026, local media reported. Xpeng told the press in Malaysia that the proposed facility would not only serve the domestic market but also supply right-hand-drive vehicles across Southeast Asia. “EPMB is a Malaysian manufacturer of auto components such as plastic and aluminum body parts,” The Edge Malaysia reported. “Xpeng hopes to leverage EPMB’s existing capacity and planned expansions for EV production in Malaysia, the Chinese company said in a statement.” See also: Xpeng…

Grab, the Singapore-based ride-hailing and delivery platform, will deploy 50 units of the Maxus MIFA 9 electric MPV in Indonesia as part of its newly launched GrabExecutive service. The company is expanding its premium offering, which began in August in Jakarta and Bali and is designed to attract high-income and VIP users with luxury electric vehicles. Indomobil Energi Baru (IEB), the official Maxus importer and a subsidiary of Indonesia’s Indomobil Group, has partnered with Grab to supply vehicles for the service. According to a report from Republika, the 50-unit deal represents an initial phase, with further electric vehicle procurement expected…

Prasarana Malaysia has unveiled detailed plans to electrify its bus fleet as part of its Sustainability Blueprint, committing to introduce more than 1,100 electric buses between 2025 and 2030 and achieve a fully electric fleet by 2037. The initiative supports Malaysia’s National Energy Transition Roadmap, which aims to accelerate low-carbon mobility across the country. The operator currently runs 15 electric buses on the Sunway BRT system and intends to add 150 electric feeder buses for the LRT Shah Alam Line. Prasarana said it expects to receive its final batch of diesel buses by March next year, after which its bus…

Malaysian national automaker Perodua has launched the country’s first fully homegrown electric vehicle (EV), the QV-E, following a development investment of 800 million ringgit ($170 million). The QV-E is the direct result of the Malaysian government’s ‘New Industrial Master Plan 2030’ (NIMP 2030), under which Perodua was appointed to spearhead the development of the nation’s domestic EV ecosystem and deliver a locally developed electric car by 2025. See also: Malaysia to Open First Highway-Integrated EV Charging Hub by 2027 Unlike its traditional models which utilize Daihatsu platforms, the QV-E is built on a new, modular platform co-developed with Magna Steyr,…