China's Changan(sign) a deal last week with the Thai authorities to build a vehicle-producing plant in the Southeast Asian country, as state-owned carmaker speeds up efforts to explore overseas markets,(especial) those involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.
The Chongqing-based carmaker said it will invest 8.8 billion baht (around $240 million) in the production facility, initially (design) to produce 100,000 new energy vehicles a year.
The NEVs to be produced in its Thai plant (sell) in the country and exported to other (market) such as Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
Changan is joining the ranks of other major Chinese carmakers including SAIC, Great Wall Motor as well as BYD, have release d plant plans or are already producing vehicles Southeast Asia.
Their local production can boost the local automotive industry and will allow those Chinese carmakers (become) more competitive in the market, said Yahaya Ahmad, technical leader of the ASEAN New Car Assessment Program.
Ahmad said the (popular) of Chinese branded vehicles is growing thanks to their improved quality.
"I would expect Chinese carmakers to be competitive…they can compete in terms of the safety, in terms of the cost, in terms of the quality," he said.
