GWM to produce EVs and more for the ASEAN market in Thailand by 2021

China's Great Wall Motors (GWM) is in talks with Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) authorities ahead of their plans to start producing cars there by early-2021.

GWM will take over General Motors' Rayong plant, after the latter announced their exit from the Thai market and subsequent sale of their plant to the Chinese carmakers.

Our Thai colleagues over at AutoFun also report that GWM plans to make Thailand the company’s regional production hub for cars that they'll sell in the ASEAN region.

This plan includes the production of fully-electric (EV) and conventional fuel-powered vehicles alongside the development of autonomous vehicles, in line with the country’s National EV Policy Committee’s goal to increase the adoption of electric vehicles. 

More than just cars

GWM’s foray into the Thai market goes beyond producing and selling cars, but also includes the development of parts and skilled personnel in the country. 

According to Zhang Jia Ming - GWM’s president of ASEAN operations - the company aims to use as many domestic parts as possible and is ready to cooperate with domestic electric car parts manufacturers. 

Forming a subsidiary manufacturing plant in Thailand to produce batteries and spare parts for electric vehicles is also in their plans. In addition, GWM is looking into creating training centres for their staff to support production of said new vehicles.

Which does it mean for us?

With GWM's active involvement in developing EVs through their brands, this move could see EVs take off on a much larger scale in the ASEAN region.

Seeing as they'd like to domesticate production as much possible could drive costs down, and in the best case scenario, make EVs affordable enough to be the default choice among ASEAN motorists.