Guangzhou Automobile Corp (GAC), a leading electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, recently announced it plans to develop Thailand into a global production hub for its right-hand drive electric car.
The company has already started shipping Aion Y Plus EVs to Thailand to establish a local presence before launching production by June 2024.
At the official launch of the battery SUV in Thailand, it was revealed that the company intends to set up an assembly plant in Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), a special economic zone popular among automakers, covering the industrial areas of Chonburi, Rayong and Chachoengsao. It has been reported that plans have already been drafted and sent to the government.
GAC has established a local subsidiary in Thailand under the name Aion Automobile Manufacturing (Thailand). The company is planning to invest around USD 170 million over the next three to five years to build EV and battery factories for the Southeast Asian region.
The Thai plant will represent GAC’s first overseas factory with the company joining a growing number of brands setting up electric and hybrid vehicle assembly in Thailand, including Great Wall Motors, Hozon, BYD and SAIC Motor.
(Sources: The Nation; Just Auto)