On May 16, ChangAn Automobile held the production launch ceremony at its Rayong Factory in Thailand, coinciding with the milestone of ChangAn's 28.59 millionth vehicle rolling off the assembly line. This marks the full acceleration of ChangAn Automobile's globalization process.
The Rayong Factory is not only ChangAn Automobile's first overseas new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturing plant but also the first overseas NEV production base established by a state-owned enterprise.
ChangAn Automobile Accelerates Globalization
Currently, ChangAn Automobile has achieved positive results in the Thai market, with products such as the DEEPAL S07 and AVATR 11 gaining recognition from local consumers. Over the next three years, the company will successively launch 12 brand-new NEV models.
The Rayong Factory will serve as a strategic hub for ChangAn Automobile's global expansion, pioneering a shift from product exports to industrial globalization while upgrading Thailand's NEV supply chain. Its production capacity will double from 100,000 to 200,000 units annually, with vehicles from three brands—CHANGAN, DEEPAL, and AVATR—rolling off the assembly line.
Taking the Rayong Factory as its base, ChangAn Automobile has established three subsidiaries—CHANGAN Auto Southeast Asia Co., LTD., CHANGAN Auto Sales (Thailand) Co., LTD., and CHANGAN Auto Components (Thailand) Co., LTD.—along with a localized operation team. Its local operations in Thailand have become increasingly robust.
A Chinese-style Roadmap for Automobile Overseas Expansion
In 2023, ChangAn Automobile launched the Hai Na Bai Chuan Plan. The official operation of the Rayong Factory symbolizes a new phase in the Plan, marking a comprehensive leap from product export to full-scale overseas expansion.
This follows ChangAn's three-step global strategy: product exports, brand globalization, and overseas manufacturing, charting a Chinese-style roadmap for automobile overseas expansion.
In Southeast Asia, the Rayong Factory will promote the export of the company's technical standards, deepen regional industrial collaboration, and establish a benchmark market.
In South America and the Middle East, ChangAn Automobile has established subsidiaries in Mexico and the Middle East to accelerate its localized operations. In February 2025, the dual flagship models AVATR 11 and AVATR 12 were launched in Qatar, and the DEEPAL S07 officially entered the UAE market.
In Europe, where the automotive industry is more mature, ChangAn Automobile's German subsidiary was registered in Munich to integrate more deeply into the European market.
Today, ChangAn Automobile has initially formed a globally coordinated layout of its industrial chain. In April 2025, its total retail sales reached 206,047 units, a 5.2% year-on-year increase, while NEV retail sales hit 71,349 units, a surge of 46.7% against the market trend. The three smart electric brands—QIYUAN, DEEPAL, and AVATR—are advancing and leading the NEV market.
Editor | Zhou Jiajie (intern), Li Lan (intern), Liu Lingzhi, Wei Shen, James, Shen He
