ChangAn Automobile opens its first international NEV factory in Rayong, Thailand, establishing a green, smart manufacturing hub as part of its Vast Ocean Plan.
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| ChangAn launches its first NEV plant outside China in Rayong, Thailand, with advanced green tech, boosting local production and global automotive strategy. Image: ChangAn/ CH |
Rayong, Thailand – May 20, 2025:
ChangAn Automobile, a leading low-carbon smart mobility technology company, officially launched operations at its first international new energy vehicle (NEV) production base in Rayong, Thailand. The move represents a milestone in ChangAn’s “Vast Ocean Plan,” a strategy designed to shift the company’s global model from vehicle exports to exporting integrated industrial ecosystems.
The Rayong facility is a high-tech manufacturing hub that integrates production systems, research and development processes, and sustainable supply chain practices. Spanning approximately 392,000 square meters, the plant includes five major workshops—welding, painting, general assembly, engine and battery assembly—and advanced auxiliary systems. Designed for efficiency and sustainability, it uses photovoltaic systems, daylight optimization, and recycled gray and rainwater, reducing energy use per vehicle by around 20%.
Coinciding with the launch, ChangAn marked the delivery of its 28.59 millionth vehicle, a right-hand-drive DEEPAL S05 customized for international markets. The milestone highlights the company’s ambition to elevate five global regions—Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa, Central and South America, Europe, and Eurasia—to the same strategic level as its home market in China.
The Rayong plant will initially produce 100,000 vehicles annually, with capacity expected to double to 200,000 units by 2027. It will manufacture vehicles across ChangAn’s core brands: CHANG-AN, DEEPAL, and AVATR. The plant combines 41 years of ChangAn’s automotive expertise with localized operations, establishing a globally replicable model for smart, sustainable manufacturing.
The facility incorporates ChangAn’s CPS Lean Manufacturing System, emphasizing leadership, productivity, and quality. It also applies seven integrated systems and six core processes, and leverages the CAPDS platform to drive regional R&D in intelligent systems and adaptive design. With the CA-PLS framework, the Rayong site becomes ChangAn’s first international factory to standardize global production management, enabling rapid new product rollouts and supporting a resilient, dual-circulation supply chain linking China and Thailand.
Since launching its brand in Southeast Asia in November 2023, ChangAn has introduced seven NEV models in Thailand, including the DEEPAL S07, E07, and AVATR 11. With over 14,000 units sold, ChangAn now ranks among the top four NEV manufacturers in the Thai market. It has also established a presence in Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and Germany.
“This is a great moment for ChangAn: a giant leap from exporting automobiles to building a local ecosystem,” said Zhu Huarong, Chairman of ChangAn Automobile. “Despite the enormous challenges posed by anti-globalization, ChangAn remains committed to the Vast Ocean Plan. With a spirit of win-win cooperation, we will further contribute to Thailand’s economic and social development and boost the global automotive industry.”
ChangAn’s investment in Thailand represents a broader commitment to creating smart, green manufacturing ecosystems that support sustainable development and economic integration across regions.