Chang'an is using Thailand as the launchpad for a bigger push across Southeast Asia, elevating the country to its ASEAN headquarters and its largest production base outside China as the Chinese EV maker expands output, exports and its model line-up.
Chang'an expands Thailand EV hub and exports
The strategy matters because it turns Thailand from a sales market into a regional manufacturing and logistics hub, deepening local supply chains while giving Chang'an a lower-cost route into right-hand-drive markets and beyond. For investors, that means a faster-growing overseas revenue stream, more local content and a clearer path to scale outside China, where competition and pricing pressure remain intense.
Sentiment Indicators
The company said it has sold more than 35,000 vehicles in Thailand over the past three years, with annual sales rising from about 5,000 units in 2024 to 14,000 in 2025. It is targeting 30,000 units in 2026, more than tripling the current run-rate.
At the same time, Chang'an is leaning on its Rayong factory, its first new-energy vehicle plant outside China, to anchor production for the region. The site began operating in May 2025 after an investment of more than 10 billion baht and now builds two EV models, the DEEPAL S05 and NEVO Q05.
Thailand is also becoming an export base. Chang'an said it plans to ship 6,000 EVs from Thailand to 18 countries and regions in 2026, after the first batch of Thailand-made DEEPAL S05 vehicles was exported to Europe in 2025. The company described the country as a strategic platform for right-hand-drive markets worldwide.
The local build-out is extending beyond assembly. Chang'an said its Thai supplier base has expanded to 413 companies from more than 300 in three years, while employment in Thailand stands at 2,143 people, more than 90% of them Thai nationals. The company said its local operations support more than 30,000 jobs across the value chain.
Thailand’s appeal to Chinese automakers has been rising as the country competes to remain the region’s automotive hub. For Chang'an, the market offers an established auto ecosystem, access to ASEAN and a base for export diversification at a time when global EV demand is still shifting quickly.
The next test is execution. Chang'an says it plans to launch 12 new mainstream models over the next three years, expand its Thai service network to more than 150 outlets and lift its local workforce to more than 3,000 by 2030, while raising exports and deepening local parts production.
| Entity | Gains | Losses |
|---|---|---|
| Chang'an | ▲ASEAN hub, export scale | ▼Higher execution risk |
| Thailand | ▲Investment, jobs, supply chain | ▼Pressure to deliver incentives |
| Local suppliers | ▲More orders, technology transfer | ▼Greater reliance on one OEM |
| Rivals | ▲None | ▼Share pressure in Thailand EV market |
