Thailand is an important automobile producing country in Southeast Asia. In recent years, Thailand has vigorously embraced electrification. According to the "3030 Policy" issued by the Thai government, Thailand plans to achieve electric vehicle sales of 225000 units by 2025 and 725000 units by 2030, accounting for 30% of its automobile production.

In Thailand, Chinese electric vehicles are increasingly favored by Thai consumers for their high-quality products, innovative designs, and competitive prices. According to the statistics of the Thai Automobile Association, the total registered number of electric vehicles in Thailand in 2023 is about 76000, accounting for 12% of the total number of car registrations. The top four are all Chinese brands, and Chinese brands account for 8 seats in the top ten.

Chinese car companies investing and building factories in Thailand are also helping the transformation and upgrading of the Thai automotive industry. Chinese car company Great Wall Motors completed the acquisition of the Rayong factory in Thailand in November 2020, becoming the first Chinese car brand to fully enter Thailand. On January 12th of this year, the electric vehicle brand Ora Haomao under Great Wall Motors officially went offline at the Rayong New Energy Vehicle Manufacturing Base. This is the first mass-produced pure electric vehicle produced locally in Thailand.

On January 12th, workers worked in the production workshop of the Great Wall New Energy Vehicle Manufacturing Base in Rayong, Thailand.

This is the Euler Haomao electric vehicle captured on January 12th at the Great Wall New Energy Vehicle Manufacturing Base in Rayong, Thailand.

This is a photo of the Ora Cat electric car taken at the Thailand International Auto Show held in Numphon, Thailand on November 28th.

This is a photo of the Ora Cat electric car taken on March 27th at the Bangkok International Auto Show in Thailand.

In the view of Sulo Sunny, Vice President of the Thai Electric Vehicle Association, Chinese car companies using their advanced technological advantages to establish factories and joint ventures in Thailand will benefit the Thai people and the Thai automotive industry the most. Suoluo believes that the layout of Chinese electric vehicles in the Thai market not only provides Thai consumers with more choices, but also brings advanced technology, which will help Thailand form a complete electric vehicle industry chain and promote local employment.

On December 6th, workers worked at the Great Wall New Energy Vehicle Manufacturing Base in Rayong, Thailand.

Vilanan Prappan is 36 years old and graduated from engineering. Starting from 2022, he will serve as a production manager, mainly responsible for controlling the production line and product quality. Vilanan said that in the past three years, colleagues from both China and Thailand have given him many valuable opportunities in his work, and he has always firmly grasped these opportunities and worked hard. The company encourages us to express our opinions, allows us to do things freely, and is very supportive of our work, "he said. In Vilanan's view, Chinese electric vehicles are of great benefit to Thailand: firstly, they are affordable, secondly, they are friendly to Thailand's air, and thirdly, they can increase local employment rates.

On December 6th, Vilanan shared his feelings at the Great Wall New Energy Vehicle Manufacturing Base in Rayong, Thailand.

On December 6th, Vilanan (left) worked at the Great Wall New Energy Vehicle Manufacturing Base in Rayong, Thailand.

On December 6th, Vilanan dined at the cafeteria of the Great Wall New Energy Vehicle Manufacturing Base in Rayong, Thailand.

Akalava Songwengjiao, the current workshop director, is 44 years old this year. He started as an assembly worker in 2020, constantly learning skills and accumulating experience, and gradually rose to his current management position. Akalava believes that the technological development of Chinese enterprises keeping up with the times is impressive. Through friendly exchanges with Chinese colleagues, Akalava also experienced various Chinese cultures, and this job made him very satisfied. In his opinion, electric cars are more economical and environmentally friendly than gasoline cars, and have been widely recognized by Thai consumers. The market trend is strong, and he himself has plans to purchase electric cars.

On December 6th, Akalava shared his feelings at the Great Wall New Energy Vehicle Manufacturing Base in Rayong, Thailand.

On December 6th, Akalava (left) and his colleagues were working at the Great Wall New Energy Vehicle Manufacturing Base in Rayong, Thailand.

Speaking of the upcoming Spring Festival, two local employees sent their blessings one after another. Willannan mentioned that Chinese colleagues around him would share special products from China and show pictures of the Chinese New Year when they returned from family visits. He thought it would be very helpful to spread Chinese culture and enhance the feelings between the two peoples. "I wish the people of the two countries good health, smooth work and extensive financial resources, and also wish the automobile industry of the two countries to go hand in hand," said Willannan. "I hope that everyone can have a happy reunion with their families during the Spring Festival. Next year is the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand, and I wish the people of the two countries a happy and healthy life," Akalawa said.

Photography: Sun Weitong, Wang Teng

Text: Sun Weitong

Produced by: Han Ye

Jointly produced by Xinhua News Agency Photography Department Bangkok Branch