Chinese manufacturers have set out to conquer the world, and Europe. Taxation as protection against these newcomers is proving complex. More and more of them are setting up factories outside of China, and Thailand is increasingly seen as a beachhead.
After Greatwall (Haval, Ora, Wey, Poer, Tank) and SAIC (MG), several Chinese manufacturers have started work to set up in Thailand. In particular to produce electric vehicles there. Last fall, BYD announced its plant, which has just started work. In December, it was the turn of Aiways to formalize a major order associated with an industrial establishment.
A second start-up confirms the appeal of Thailand, which is striving to electrify its production. The Chinese start-up Hozon Auto, which sells its vehicles under the Neta brand, in turn confirms a factory. It even more than confirms since the laying of the first stone of the plant was laid in stride. Neta thus caps Aiways at the post for the first factory outside China for a young manufacturer of electric models.
This new factory, operated in joint venture with BGAC, will be operational in January 2024, and will be able to produce up to 20,000 electric cars per year. It will naturally become the main supply base for right-hand drive vehicles and for ASEAN. But it could subsequently fuel the ambitions of the manufacturer towards other countries.
At the signing ceremony, Zhang Yong, CEO and Founder of Neta, spoke about the brand’s arrival in the Middle East and Europe.
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