Changan has opened its first electric car and hybrid manufacturing plant outside China

China's Changan has launched its first overseas full-service electrified vehicle (NEV) plant. The new facility is located in the WHA Eastern Seaboard 4 industrial zone in Thailand's Rayong province. The first model to roll off the assembly line is the Deepal S05 crossover.

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The plant covers about 600 acres and includes all key areas of production - from welding and body painting to battery assembly, powertrain assembly and final vehicle assembly. The total investment in the facility was around 10 billion baht (approximately €268 million).

By the end of 2025, the localisation rate is expected to reach 68% and 80% by 2028.

The design capacity of the plant at the first stage - 100 000 cars per year. By 2027, the volumes are planned to double. In addition to the local market, products will be exported to other ASEAN countries, Australia, New Zealand, as well as considered deliveries to the UK and other states with left-hand drive.

The Deepal S05 crossover was unveiled in Thailand in March this year at the Bangkok International Motor Show 2025. The model is available in two versions: an all-electric version with a range of up to 470 km on the NEDC cycle and an Extended Range Extended Vehicle (EREV) capable of driving up to 170 km on electric power and over 1,000 km with the petrol engine as a generator.

Sources: Changan via Weibo, Nationthailand