Neta, Hozon Auto’s Chinese electric car brand, has commenced construction of its first production facility outside China in the Thai capital of Bangkok. With operations expected to commence at the end of January 2024, the new plant is set to become a critical location for manufacturing and exporting right-hand drive electric cars to ASEAN countries.
While the automaker did not provide any specific details on production capacity, it did reveal that this would be “the first plant of China EV startups in Thailand.” Neta has also inked a cooperation agreement with Bangchan General Assembly Co., Ltd. (BGAC), a Thai company, to run the plant.
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The manufacturing facility will comprise three primary facilities, namely the body shop, the paint shop, and the final assembly. According to Neta, all areas will feature “optimized plant design and innovative process technologies based on the concept of lean and intelligent manufacture.” These improvements should help the company conserve resources while improving the overall quality and efficiency of its operations.
Although Neta has not disclosed which models it intends to produce at the new plant in Bangkok, the company currently offers the Neta V, an electric SUV measuring 4.07 meters in length, in Thailand. In China, the car sells for less than 10,000 euros. In January 2023, Neta announced that it would employ the skateboard chassis from shareholder CATL. However, it remains unclear whether this will occur in China or Thailand.
Neta’s CEO, Zhang Yong, has revealed that the company will simultaneously develop “several world-class intelligent EV manufacturing bases” to accelerate its globalization efforts. The company plans to expand to more countries in the Middle East, the EU, and other regions.
See also: Neta Auto Aims to Double Sales with 300,000 Unit Target in 2023
Several other firms are also building electric vehicle production facilities in Thailand, including BYD, Horizon Plus, a joint venture between Taiwanese contract manufacturer Foxconn and Thai energy company PTT, and Aiways.
As the world continues to shift towards electric vehicles, Neta’s move to construct a production facility in Thailand represents a significant milestone in its efforts to expand its global footprint. With increased manufacturing capacity and distribution channels, the company is well-positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for electric vehicles in Southeast Asia and beyond.
