Changan’s production facility in Thailand will introduce models from sub-brands Deepal, Avatr, and Qiyuan, with an annual capacity of 100,000 units in the first phase.

Changan Automobile aims to have its plant in Thailand, which began construction earlier this month, up and running by the first quarter of 2025.

The Chinese auto giant held a brand launch in Thailand today, saying it will use Thailand as a base to enter more Southeast Asian countries and other right-hand drive car markets.

The first phase of Changan’s production base in Thailand, which will start production in the first quarter of 2025, will introduce models under sub-brands Deepal, Avatr, and Qiyuan (or Nevo), the company said.

The carmaker will invest 20 billion baht ($570 million) in the facility, with a total planned capacity of 200,000 units per year, and the first phase of the investment will be about 10 billion baht with a capacity of 100,000 units per year.

On August 23, Changan’s operating entity in Thailand was officially established, marking an important step in the company’s globalization strategy.

On October 17, Changan reached an agreement with the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) at the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation event in Beijing.

Changan plans to invest 8.8 billion baht in Thailand to build a NEV production plant with a design capacity of up to 100,000 units in the first phase, according to its press release last month.

The Thailand BOI secretary general Narit Therdsteerasukdi presented changan chairman Zhu Huarong with an investment certificate for the carmaker’s project in Thailand at an event last month.

At today’s event, two Deepal models — Deepal S07 and Deepal L07 — made their debut in Thailand and will be officially launched at the Thailand auto show on November 29. These two models are known as Deepal S7 and Deepal SL03 in China.