Ora Good Cat EV becomes first Chinese brand to be assembled in Thailand
Automaker Great Wall Motors (GWM) has started assembling the Ora Good Cat electric vehicle (EV) — the first Chinese brand to be made in Thailand — with the first units set to be delivered this month.
Prices for the models to be assembled in Thailand start at 799,000 baht.
Investment in EV production in Thailand has continued to expand, with the Board of Investment (BOI) having approved 23 EV projects from 16 companies. By 2030, electric vehicles are projected to account for 30% of the total vehicle production in Thailand, or approximately 725,000 units per year.
Currently, six Chinese EV companies with revenues ranking in the top 10 in China in 2022 have entered, or planned to enter the Thai market, with GWM announcing an investment plan of 22.6 billion baht for EV production, components, and EV infrastructure.
Industry Minister Pimpattra Wichaikul presided over the opening ceremony for the production line of the New GWM Ora Good Cat electric vehicle at the GWM plant in the Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate, Rayong, on Saturday (January 12).
A report from the Board of Investment (BOI) indicated that Ora Good Cat would be the first Chinese brand to commence EV production in Thailand, in line with the government's EV 3.0 support measures.
Thailand is the first country outside China where Ora electric vehicles will be manufactured for the international market, making the kingdom an EV hub in ASEAN.
Additionally, starting from March, the company plans to use battery packs produced by the SVOLT battery factory, a subsidiary that has invested in and established a battery production facility in Thailand since July 2023.
A report from GWM stated that its plant in Rayong would produce three sub-models:
Pro priced at 799,000 baht; Ultra priced at 899,000 baht and GT priced at 1,099,000 baht.
These prices are lower than those of the previous models by 29,000 to 187,000 baht for each sub-model. The previous prices for the Good Cat were: 400 Pro - 828,000 baht; 500 Ultra - 959,000 baht; GT - 1,286,000 baht
The local production of Ora Good Cat in Thailand is a significant milestone for the Thai automotive industry and proof that Thailand is becoming a more attractive destination for EV production.
The local assembly of Ora Good Cat is also expected to help boost the Thai economy by creating jobs and generating revenue for the Thai government.
