Chinese EV maker Hozon kicks off operations at its first overseas factory, in Thailand, as it steps up push for Southeast Asian market share

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Hozon New Energy Automobile has started making vehicles in Thailand at its first overseas factory as it steps up efforts to tap the Southeast Asia market

Hozon said it had delivered more than 12,000 of its Neta-branded cars in Thailand since it started exporting Chinese-made vehicles there in August, 2022

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The Neta V-II is the company’s first right-hand drive model developed for some markets outside mainland China, including Southeast Asia. Photo: Captured from WEIBO

Daniel Renin Shanghai

Published: 8:30pm, 1 Dec 2023

China’s Hozon New Energy Automobile has started assembling vehicles in Thailand at its first overseas factory as it steps up its efforts to tap the Southeast Asian market.

The Shanghai-based carmaker said in a statement to the Post on Friday that it had built the first right-hand-drive version of its Neta V-II, an electric compact sport-utility vehicle, at its Bangkok plant on Thursday, about two months ahead of schedule. Hozon is also known as Neta Auto.

“Through the Thai factory, Neta has truly integrated into the new-energy vehicle industry chain in Thailand and the entire Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region, becoming a key participant and promoter,” Zhang Yong, co-founder and CEO of Hozon, said in the statement.

“Neta is dedicated to building a complete industry chain that encompasses research and development, manufacturing, sales, and after-sales service.”

Hozon, which was founded in 2014, began building its Bangkok assembly facility in March, to focus on right-hand drive vehicles targeting the Asean markets.

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The factory, which it built along with its Thai partner, Bangchan General Assembly, has an annual capacity of 20,000 units. The Neta V-II is the company’s first right-hand drive model developed for some markets outside mainland China, including Southeast Asia.