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GAC opens first overseas battery factory in Thailand

Chon Buri facility complements Chinese automaker’s Aion vehicle manufacturing plant in Rayong

The GAC Aion vehicle factory at Amata City Rayong Industrial Estate will be the main customer of the battery pack producer that GAC has opened in Chon Buri. (GAC Aion Thailand)
The GAC Aion vehicle factory at Amata City Rayong Industrial Estate will be the main customer of the battery pack producer that GAC has opened in Chon Buri. (GAC Aion Thailand)

Guangzhou Automobile Corporation (GAC) said ​on Tuesday that its first ​overseas self-developed battery ‌pack plant has begun production in Thailand, marking a key step in localising its EV ​supply ⁠chain overseas.

The facility will complement the Chinese automaker’s existing vehicle manufacturing operations ‌in Thailand, allowing it to localise both vehicle assembly and core battery ⁠components, according to a company statement.

The plant, operated by the battery unit INPOW, is located in Chon Buri and will ​supply battery packs for locally produced Aion Y Plus electric ​vehicles manufactured in Rayong.

Phase one of the project has a planned annual ​capacity ⁠of 7,000 battery packs, while a second phase ⁠could raise capacity to 20,000 packs per year, the company said.

GAC said the plant ⁠would help shorten delivery ​times, improve supply-chain security in Thailand and support its expansion in the wider Southeast Asian ‌market.

Source – Bangkok News