Changan's Thai factory goes into operation, with 12 car models to be launched in Southeast Asia in the next three years | The Frontline

Text | Li Anqi

Editor | Li Qin

On May 16th, Changan Automobile officially started production at its factory in Rayong, Thailand. Meanwhile, Changan Automobile also witnessed the roll - off of its 28.59 millionth vehicle globally. This is the first new car rolled off the production line at the Rayong factory - the right - hand drive version of the Deepal S05.

This is Changan Automobile's first overseas new - energy vehicle manufacturing plant. The factory is located in Rayong, a port and industrial city in eastern Thailand, where BYD, GAC, Continental Automotive and other companies have also set up factories.

Construction of this Changan factory began in November 2023. After more than a year, the factory was officially put into production. According to Changan, the initial production capacity of this factory is 100,000 vehicles per year, with a total investment of about 10 billion Thai baht (approximately 2.16 billion RMB). The capacity will gradually expand to 200,000 vehicles per year in the future.

According to the plan, models of Changan, Deepal and Avatr will all be produced at the Rayong factory in the future. In the next three years, Changan will launch 12 new - energy vehicle models in the Southeast Asian market one after another. In addition, Changan will also establish a spare parts warehouse in Rayong, Thailand, which will become the right - hand drive spare parts center for the global market.

Zhu Huarong, the chairman of Changan Automobile, said in an interview that Changan Automobile not only invests in building production lines in Thailand but also plans to establish R & D and after - sales service systems. The total planned investment amounts to 30 billion Thai baht (approximately 6.48 billion RMB).

The official operation of the Rayong factory in Thailand also means that Changan Automobile has achieved a leap from product export to industrial expansion overseas.

Changan's earliest overseas markets were mainly in the Middle East and Africa. Since 1994, Changan has entered the Middle East and African markets and gradually built a sales network covering countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. As of now, Changan's cumulative sales in this region have exceeded 400,000 vehicles.

However, Changan aims at a larger global market. "Chinese automakers must not only strive for the 30 - million - vehicle domestic market. They must go global. After our analysis, there is still a potential market of about 25 million vehicles in the future. Changan's plan includes five regional markets: Southeast Asia, Central and South America, the Middle East, Eurasia and Africa, and Europe." Zhu Huarong said in an interview.

Previously, Changan held brand launch events and established subsidiaries in Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Germany.

The Thai factory is a key outpost for markets in Southeast Asia, Australia and other regions.

Previously, Changan Automobile had established local operations in Southeast Asia and other regions. Currently, seven new models such as the Deepal S07 and Avatr 11 have been launched in the Thai market. In April this year, Deepal received 6,589 orders at the 2025 Bangkok Auto Show.

A large part of the Southeast Asian market follows the right - hand drive rule. The new Rayong factory of Changan not only produces right - hand drive vehicles but also left - hand drive vehicles. After building the factory and the vehicle spare parts warehouse locally, Changan Automobile will undoubtedly be able to better serve the Southeast Asian market and even radiate a wider global market.

"It is not ruled out that in addition to new - energy vehicles, fuel - powered vehicles will also be produced next year. Because the Rayong factory is not only for the Southeast Asian region but also an integral part of Changan Automobile's global production network. Left - hand drive fuel - powered vehicles may also be shipped from here to the Central and South American markets." Wang Hui, the vice - president of Changan Automobile, said.

Changan Automobile aims to achieve global sales of over 5 million vehicles by 2030, with an overseas sales target of 1.5 million vehicles. By then, the number of overseas employees will increase from the current several thousand to tens of thousands.