Neta heralded the construction of the plant in the Thai capital Bangkok in March 2023. Production on site is still on a smaller scale. However, annual capacity is set to increase to 20,000 vehicles when mass production starts in the first quarter of 2024. The first model to be produced locally is the right-hand drive Neta V-II electric SUV.
According to Neta, the plant will serve as an important location for the production and export of right-hand drive electric cars to the ASEAN countries. The Chinese brand is cooperating with the Thai company Bangchan General Assembly Co, Ltd (BGAC) to operate the site.
According to CN EV News, Neta has now delivered more than 12,000 vehicles in Thailand and accounts for 20 per cent of the country’s electric car registrations. By 2024, the brand aims to “gain a foothold in more than 50 countries and territories” and achieve export sales of 100,000 vehicles. In January 2023, it was announced that Neta will also use the skateboard platform from shareholder CATL – although it is not yet known whether this will be in China, Thailand or both countries.
Meanwhile, Thailand has developed into an eMobility hub in Southeast Asia, primarily as an expansion base for Chinese manufacturers. Changan is also building a factory there, as is GAC Aion, and the MG4 has also been manufactured in Thailand since November. There are also a number of battery projects, for example from Eve Energy, SVOLT and Gotion High-Tech.
