Neta Automobile, the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, is expanding its presence in Southeast Asia, with a significant shipment of thousands of EVs bound for Thailand. The automaker has confirmed that 3,600 Neta V EVs were sent from Guangzhou’s Nansha port, marking the largest single export to date by a new Chinese carmaker. The vehicles are set to be shipped to Thailand, where Neta V has already gained significant traction. The EV maker has already accumulated more than 2,000 deliveries and ranked second on the list of pure electric model license plate registrations for two consecutive months in the country.
Neta has announced that it is launching the right-hand-drive version of the Neta V in Thailand, as its first model offered in the region. The company has 25 authorized dealers in Thailand and plans to expand to 30 by the end of 2022. Neta has established a European division, a Thai subsidiary, and has launched three overseas products, including the Neta U global version, Neta V global version, and Neta V right-hand drive version. The automaker has a presence in overseas markets across ASEAN, South Asia, and the Middle East.
See also: Neta Launches Neta S electric sedan, price start at $29,610
In China, Neta currently sells the Neta V, Neta U-II, and Neta S, which start at RMB 83,900 ($12,190), 135,800 and 242,800 respectively. The company delivered 7,117 vehicles in February, up 255% from a year earlier, but down 35% from 11,009 units in January.
Neta laid the groundbreaking for its plant in Bangkok, Thailand, on March 10, which will be its main manufacturing base for building right-hand drive electric vehicles for export to ASEAN. The plant is Neta’s first overseas factory and the first in Thailand for a new Chinese carmaker. Once completed, the plant will have a capacity of 20,000 units per year and is expected to be operational by the end of January 2024.
Neta plans to expand its overseas operations to more regions, including the Middle East and the European Union. Zhang Yong, the company’s co-founder, and CEO, stated that Neta aims to become a brand that consumers worldwide recognize and trust. With competition in China’s EV market growing fiercer, many local car companies are stepping up their efforts to expand into overseas markets. This latest export from Neta is the ninth batch of NEVs to be exported from Guangzhou’s Nansha Free Trade Pilot Zone this year, marking a significant milestone in the company’s expansion plans.
