In Rayong, south of Bangkok, Thailand, Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker BYD has just opened its first plant in Southeast Asia. The Thai factory will have an annual production capacity of 150,000 vehicles, and batteries as well as other important parts will also be assembled there.

“Thailand has a clear EV vision and is entering a new era of auto manufacturing,” said BYD CEO and President Wang Chuanfu at the opening ceremony. “We will bring technology from China to Thailand.”

Narit Therdsteerasukdi, Secretary-general of Thailand's Board of Investment, said that BYD is using Thailand as a production hub for export to ASEAN and many other countries.

As Reuters reported, the BYD’s facility in Thailand will also produce EVs and plug-in hybrids for the European market, where the European Commission is imposing tariffs of up to nearly 38% on Chinese-made EVs.

The right-hand-drive EVs manufactured at the plant will potentially allow BYD to circumvent EU tariffs, which are applicable to China-made EVs, said Reuters.

Read more: EU to slap higher tariff on Chinese EVs

In 2023, BYD sold 30,650 EVs in Thailand and plans for its new factory to make the DOLPHIN, ATTO 3, SEAL and SEALION 6 models, the Associated Press reported.

BYD featured comprehensive brand Lineup at the Bangkok International Motor Show 2024.

Chinese EVs taking Thailand by storm

Southeast Asia is a fast-growing market for EV, with sales more than doubled in Q1 of 2024 from a year before, according to figures from market research firm Counterpoint.

As per Counterpoint, three-quarters of Thailand’s EV sales in Q1 were made by Chinese automakers, and the country is the largest overseas market for BYD which commanded a 46% share of the EV segment in Q1.

Thailand aims to have 30% of the 2.5 million vehicles manufactured annually be electric by 2030.