Neta Auto, the electric vehicle (EV) brand under Hozon Auto, is making its second shipment of thousands of EVs to overseas markets within a span of three months. The company announced that a total of 4,000 Neta EVs will be sent abroad, following the previous shipment of 3,600 vehicles in March, as stated in a recent WeChat post.
Although Neta has not disclosed the specific countries to which the vehicles will be exported, it is likely that the focus will remain on Southeast Asia. Notably, in March, 3,600 units of the compact SUV Neta V were dispatched to Thailand. Thailand serves as Neta’s home base for expanding into the ASEAN market, and the Neta V has gained significant popularity and trust among local consumers, according to Neta’s recent statement.
Citing data from Thai website AutoLife, Neta highlighted that from January to April, the Neta V secured the second position in Thailand, capturing a 16.5 percent share of all-electric vehicle license plate registrations. Encouraged by this positive response, Neta is actively preparing to enter the European market. The company plans to participate in the Munich auto show in Germany later this year, and it also intends to introduce the Neta GT sports car to overseas markets in the near future.
Additionally, Neta revealed its intention to launch a new global model that will contribute to making high-quality electric smart cars more accessible. However, specific details regarding this upcoming model were not disclosed by the company.
Since its establishment in October 2014, Neta has been regarded as a budget-friendly EV manufacturer, targeting the lower end of the market with its reasonably priced vehicles. Nevertheless, Neta aims to enhance its brand image by introducing higher-end models such as the flagship sedan, Neta S, and the Neta GT sports car.
As the competition in China’s EV market intensifies, domestic car companies like Neta and NIO are increasingly focusing on expanding overseas. While NIO aims to tap into the more developed European market, Neta’s initial efforts are concentrated on Southeast Asia.
Notably, Neta launched its first model in Thailand, the right-hand drive version of the Neta V, on August 24, 2022. The company recently laid the foundation stone for its factory in Bangkok, Thailand, on March 10, 2023, which will serve as its primary manufacturing base for producing right-hand drive EVs destined for export to the ASEAN region.
Expanding its reach further, Neta announced its entry into Malaysia on May 11, where it unveiled the right-hand drive version of the Neta V for local consumers during the largest auto show in the region.
According to the data released by Neta on June 1, the company delivered 13,029 units in May. This reflects an 18.35 percent increase compared to the same month last year, as well as a 17.59 percent rise from the 11,080 units delivered in April.
