China's GAC Aion Expands Global Presence with New Electric Vehicle Factory in Thailand

China's GAC Aion Expands Global Presence with New Electric Vehicle Factory in Thailand
Image credit: Xinhuanet news 

China's carmaker GAC Aion, a subsidiary of GAC Group, has opened its first electric vehicle (EV) factory in Thailand, marking a significant milestone in the company's international expansion. This factory, located in Rayong province within Thailand's Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), represents a 2.3 billion baht (64 million U.S. dollars) investment and boasts an annual capacity of 50,000 vehicles.

GAC Aion's Rayong plant is highly advanced, incorporating technologies such as big data, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things to enhance production efficiency across multiple models. This factory is the second overseas EV plant established by a Chinese carmaker in Thailand this month, following BYD.

Thailand's Minister of Industry, Pimphattra Wichaikul, highlighted the significance of the new EV factory at the inauguration ceremony. She stated that the operation of this plant will support the transformation of Thailand's automotive industry and help the country achieve its goal of becoming a regional and global EV production hub. The Thai government has been actively promoting investment in EVs, aiming for these vehicles to constitute 30 percent of the country's total vehicle production by 2030.

GAC Aion Car Manufacturing factory in Thailand at work
Image credit: Xinhuanet news 

GAC Aion launched its Thailand strategy in June of the previous year, with its first product hitting the market in September. Zeng Qinghong, chairman of GAC Group, emphasized that the company's presence in Thailand has established a robust foundation for the nation to become the ASEAN center for the EV industry. He also noted that GAC Aion will continue to enhance the construction of charging facilities and energy ecosystems in Thailand, while coordinating the development of the entire industry chain.

GAC Group has been aggressively expanding its international markets in recent years, now offering automobile sales and after-sales services in 68 countries and regions.