GAC Aion's Thailand plant will be built in two phases, with the first phase scheduled for completion in July 2024.
(Rendering of GAC Aion's Thailand plant. Image credit: GAC Aion)
GAC Aion, the electric vehicle (EV) subsidiary of GAC Group, has begun construction of its plant in Thailand, its first overseas production site.
The plant, located in Rayong province in Thailand's Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), broke ground on January 26 with a planned investment of THB 2.3 billion ($65 million), according to a statement today.
The facility, with a designed capacity of 50,000 units per year, will be built in two phases, with the first phase scheduled for completion in July 2024.
The first model GAC Aion plans to produce at the Thai plant is a right-hand drive version of the Aion Y Plus, with more models to be produced at the plant in the future, it said.
The Chinese EV maker launched the Aion Y Plus in Thailand in September 2023, offering two versions with starting prices of THB 1,069,900 and THB 1,299,900 respectively.
The Aion Y Plus is currently offered in 11 versions in China with a starting price range of RMB 119,800 ($16,690) to RMB 189,800.
On November 29, GAC Aion showcased five models under the Aion and Hyper brands -- Aion Y Plus, Aion ES, Hyper GT, Hyper HT, and Hyper SSR -- at the Thailand auto show.
The company had entered into partnerships with several dealer groups in Thailand and had identified 34 sales outlets and service centers, it previously said.
By the end of 2023, GAC Aion would identify 50 sales stores and service centers in Thailand and plans to complete 70 by 2024, it said in November.
GAC Aion did not mention in today's statement how many stores it currently has in Thailand.
GAC Aion will build an international talent pool based on its Thai operations to achieve its goal of reaching 1 million sales by 2025, it said today.
Like many of its local counterparts, GAC Aion is actively entering the international market.
GAC Aion announced its entry into the Cambodian market on December 2 with the launch of Aion Y Plus.
The company launched the Aion Y Plus in Hong Kong on January 28 and gave its Hyper sub-brand's Hyper HT SUV, Hyper SSR supercar its debut in the city.
GAC Aion sold 45,947 vehicles in December, up 53.12 percent year-on-year and up 10.54 percent from November, according to figures it announced on January 1.
In 2023, GAC Aion sold 480,003 vehicles, up 77.02 percent year-on-year, according to data compiled by CnEVPost.
(1 $= 35.48 THB, $1 = RMB 7.1779)
