SAIC Motor has started construction of a new industrial park in Thailand dedicated to the production of electric vehicles (EVs) and related components, as it steps up expansion into south east Asia markets.
The Shanghai based automaker, which originally announced the project early in 2022, held a groundbreaking ceremony in Chonburi. The initial phase of construction should be finished later this year with full completion scheduled for 2025.
The 120,000 sq m complex will have EV component manufacturing facilities including battery modules, container logistics and an EV production line, according to reports in China. Key EV component manufacturers have also been invited to invest directly in the complex.
SAIC Motor has a joint venture with Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group, called SAIC Motor-CP, which supplies MG vehicles to local and regional markets.
The joint venture has a plant with capacity for 100,000 vehicles per year. It sold 32,000 last year and 173,000 since it was established in 2013.
