Changan’s plant in Thailand will be the main overseas production base for all global RHD models.
Changan Automobile has reiterated its plans to have assembly plant in Thailand to come into its own large overseas manufacturing baseprovide all right-hand drive vehicles that the company will produce for the global market, Nation The plant, located in the Eastern Economic Corridor special zone in Rayong, is 80 percent complete and is expected to be completed in early 2025, the report said.
Production at the plant, which will produce a range of battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and extended-range electric vehicles, is planned starting in March next year. Initial construction capacity is 100,000 units in the first year, but will increase to 200,000 units by 2026.
As previously indicated by Changan Auto Southeast Asia CEO Shen Xinghua, the Rayong plant – which will employ around 300 local workers, accounting for 70 percent of the total workforce – will not only produce right-hand drive models for the domestic market and other right-hand drive markets such as Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand and the UK, but also assemble left-hand drive versions for overseas markets.
Before the facility opens, the Chinese automaker is making major preparations for localizing parts and components, something it says is integral to its business plan. Shen said Changan plans to source parts from more than 300 local suppliers, including Thai and Chinese-owned companies, to increase the localization rate of its electric vehicles to 50% in the first year and then to 80% by 2026.
“The cost of producing electric vehicles in Thailand is still 30% to 80% higher than in China. Therefore, we will prioritize developing a supply chain network with domestic parts manufacturers to support high-volume production, helping to reduce costs,” he said.
Shen added that the company is also building a 3,000-square-meter warehouse capable of storing more than 40,000 parts of about 2,000 types, allowing 95 percent of parts to be delivered within 24 hours to Changan service centers nationwide.
The company also plans to open 60 showrooms/service centers in Thailand by the end of this year and increase to 100 next year. After introducing fully electric vehicles Deepal S07 SUV, L07 sedan and two doors Light city EV earlier this year at the Bangkok International Motor Show (BIMS), the company is all set to launch Avatar 11 in Thailand next month.
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