Following the completion of its assembly plant in Thailand, Neta has now officially kicked off its mass production operations for the Neta V-II at the facility, with first units expected to reach customers in April 2024.
The CKD operations in Thailand marks an important milestone for Neta, as it is the company’s first EV manufacturing facility outside of China. Built in collaboration with its local partner, Bangchan General Assembly, the Neta EV factory in Bangkok targets an annual output of 20,000 units.
Ahead of deliveries, the Neta V-II, sold in China as the Neta V Aya, will be officially launched at the upcoming 2024 Bangkok Motor Show happening next week. It features a handful of design updates, including redesigned bumpers, exterior lighting fixtures, and new alloy wheels, but technical specifications should remain unchanged from before.
In Thailand, this means a single electric motor on the front axle with 95 hp and 150 Nm, powered by a 38.5 kWh (usable) NMC battery pack for a driving range of 380 km (NEDC) – the same configuration as seen on the Neta V here in Malaysia.
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Neta’s Thailand local assembly operation is largely motivated by the Thai government’s incentives to promote EV adoption within the country. For qualified manufacturers, they must commit to local production by 2026 at a ratio of 1:2 (two CKD units per subsidised imported EV), rising to 1:3 by 2027.
“The Thai government’s initiatives to promote EV adoption have significantly contributed to the rapid growth of the EV market in the country,” said Neta Auto Thailand General Manager, Shu Gangzhi. “Netais committed to supporting Thailand’s government policies and is delighted to be part of the Thailand’s EV ecosystem development. This approval and certification mark another significant milestone for Neta and will greatly impact our global business operations.”
Following the Neta V, the company is now planning for new model introductions every year in Thailand, alongside an expanded dealership network across the country.
Aside from Neta, Chinese EV rivals GWM (through the Ora brand) and BYD have both also committed to local assembly operations within Thailand – the former already begun customer deliveries of the Thai-built Ora Good Cat, while the latter is currently in the process of setting up its facility in the country to serve as its ASEAN production hub.
Neta has also recently announced its local manufacturing plans in Indonesia, scheduled to begin operations in May 2024. Here in Malaysia, the company has also partnered with Careplus Group for local manufacturing efforts, and has now kicked off the construction of a 30,000-unit annual capacity manufacturing plant at the Chembong Industrial Area in Negeri Sembilan.
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