Changan Automobile has inaugurated its first overseas electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing facility in Thailand, marking a significant step in the Chinese automaker’s international expansion strategy.
The new plant, located in Rayong, an industrial hub on Thailand’s eastern seaboard, officially began operations on May 16 with the rollout of its first vehicle—a right-hand-drive version of the Deepal S05, a model under Changan’s new energy vehicle (NEV) unit. The unit represents the company’s 28.59 millionth vehicle produced to date, Changan announced on Chinese social media platform Weibo.
See also: Changan’s Sub-Brand Nevo Teases Stylish New Sedan C390 Ahead of Expected Launch
Construction of the facility began in November 2023 with an investment of approximately 10 billion baht ($300 million). The site has an initial production capacity of 100,000 units per year, which Changan plans to scale up to 200,000 units in the future.
Changan said it will establish research and development and after-sales service operations in Thailand, bringing its total planned investment in the country to 30 billion baht. Vehicles from Changan’s core brands—Changan, Deepal, and Avatr—will all be manufactured at the Thai facility.
See also: Mazda to Co-Develop EVs with CATL and Changan Using CIIC Skateboard Platform
The company plans to introduce 12 NEV models in Southeast Asia over the next three years and has already launched seven in the Thai market, including the Deepal S07 and Avatr 11.
Thailand has emerged as a regional EV manufacturing hub, with Chinese automakers including BYD and GAC also establishing production facilities in Rayong.
See also: China Urges Auto Industry Consolidation to Boost EV Transition, Eyes Dongfeng-Changan Merger
Changan began its overseas expansion in 1994, entering markets in the Middle East and Africa, and now maintains a distribution network across countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The automaker aims to achieve global sales of more than five million units by 2030, including 1.5 million units in overseas markets.
