Changan Auto is setting up a new EV production facility in Thailand

Changan Automobile, a state-owned automaker, has announced its plans to commence electric vehicle (EV) production in Thailand. This move marks the company's first manufacturing base located outside of its home country of China and is aimed at expanding its overseas sales.

The Chinese automaker has disclosed its investment plans for its electric vehicle production venture in Thailand. The initial investment is projected to be 9.8 billion Thai Baht or around P15,933,062,107 as confirmed by the Thai Board of Investments on Thursday. Furthermore, Changan Chairman Zhu Huarong announced during the Shanghai Auto Show on Tuesday that the company intends to invest a total of four billion Chinese Yuan or around P32,467,396,620 in Thailand over the next few years.

Changan’s new production plant, slated to commence production in the following year, will have an initial capacity of 100,000 cars per annum in its first phase. This capacity is projected to double to 200,000 cars per year in the subsequent phase. The factory will be situated in the Eastern Economic Corridor, a designated special economic zone encompassing three provinces along the Gulf of Thailand.

This new factory will serve as Changan Automobile's central manufacturing hub for electric and hybrid vehicles designed for right-hand drive markets. In addition, the plant will produce batteries for export to various destinations in Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.

If you’re wondering why Changan specifically set its eyes on expanding production in Thailand, it could be because, on top of being a major major hub for conventional automaking in Southeast Asia, it is also emerging as trailblazer in electric vehicle (EV) production. In fact, Several Chinese manufacturers, including BYD, have made investments in Thai plants due to increasing demand among domestic consumers as well as the Thai government’s various incentives for EV production of all types, including tax holidays, import duty exemptions, and subsidies. Brands such as Great Wall Motors and the American brand Tesla are gaining popularity as choices for Thai consumers in the growing EV market.

Could this expansion mean that Changan is aiming to bring EVs into our market here in the Philippines? Sure, the production plant is producing right-hand drive EVs, but don’t forget, it will also be building batteries for export in Southeast Asia. In addition, with the EVIDA law providing numerous incentives in the production and import of electric vehicles for sale here in the country, there is a chance that Changan will be bringing some of its EV models here in the future. The Shenlan SL03 perhaps?