On May 14, 2024, Ms. Mao Qiong Lin, General Manager of Changan Automobile Purchasing Center, and her team visited Mr. Yeap Swee Chuan, the president of AAPICO HITECH PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED (“AAPICO”), at the AAPICO Ayutthaya plant. During the visit, Ms. Mao and her team presented a letter of nomination and a car model to Mr. Yeap, symbolizing the start of this cooperation.
Following this initial engagement, on May 16, 2024, Changan Automobile participated in Subcon Thailand 2024. Mr. Shen Xinghua, the Managing Director of Changan Auto Southeast Asia Co., Ltd, a manufacturer and distributor of Changan automobiles (CHANGAN), announced a partnership with Thailand parts manufacturers such as AAPICO, Thai Summit, and Summit. The collaboration includes a total procurement plan of more than 20 billion baht for the production of their first electric vehicle, which is set to begin production in Thailand at the start of next year.
CHANGAN has established three companies in Thailand, investing up to 8.8 billion baht in a production base in Rayong province. This facility will encompass the entire automotive manufacturing process, from welding and painting to battery assembly and final assembly. Phase 1 has an annual production capacity of 100,000 vehicles starting in the first quarter of 2025, which will increase to 200,000 vehicles the following year.
CHANGAN plans to launch more than 15 new electric vehicle models over the next five years for Thailand’s electric vehicle users. The company aims to increase the use of locally sourced parts to more than 60% and supports Thai parts manufacturers, making Thailand a supply chain hub for New Energy Vehicles (NEV) in the industry. The goal is for the supply chain to be able to serve both the domestic market and abroad, especially in Southeast Asia.
With Thailand’s rapid shift towards EV adoption, CHANGAN is eager to lead the country’s transition to a more sustainable automotive landscape.
