GAC Aion has taken a significant step in its global expansion strategy by dispatching its maiden shipment of vehicles to Thailand, signifying the official commencement of its international market foray.
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GAC Aion, an electric vehicle (EV) subsidiary of the GAC Group, recently initiated the export of its premier batch of EVs to Thailand, following its announcement of market entry plans in late June.
On August 21, GAC Aion loaded its first export consignment onto a vessel at the Nansha Port in Guangzhou, consisting of 100 units of the Aion Y Plus model. These vehicles are en route to Thailand's Port of Laem Chabang, marking a significant milestone in the company's journey towards global expansion.
The Aion Y Plus models tailored for the Thai market are designed with right-hand drive specifications and have received official certification from local transportation authorities, GAC Aion stated.
Recognizing Thailand's role as a vital economy within Southeast Asia, GAC Aion underlined the expansive market potential it offers. In line with this, the company announced plans to establish its Southeast Asian headquarters in Thailand by the end of the year, with preparations for localized production also in progress.
GAC Aion had previously formalized its intention to penetrate the Thai market by entering into a memorandum of cooperation with a local distributor on June 28.
Within China, GAC Aion has asserted its position as a leading EV brand, having achieved substantial sales figures. It reported the sale of 45,025 vehicles in July, marking the fourth consecutive month with over 40,000 units sold. Furthermore, its sales from January to July 2023 totaled 256,361 vehicles, reflecting a remarkable year-on-year increase of 104.62%, according to data monitored by CnEVPost.
The Southeast Asian region, particularly Thailand, has emerged as a focal point for Chinese EV brands targeting mass-market audiences. In contrast, brands like Nio and Xpeng, focusing on higher-priced EVs, have directed their efforts primarily towards the European market.
In a parallel move, on August 24, 2022, Neta introduced the right-hand drive version of the Neta V EV in Thailand as its inaugural model for the country. Additionally, on March 10 of the present year, Neta laid the foundation for its production facility in Bangkok, Thailand, designated as the primary manufacturing hub for exporting right-hand drive EVs to the ASEAN region.
BYD also entered the Thai market, launching the compact Dolphin EV in collaboration with local partner Rêver Automotive on July 6.