6 days Ago By Ciaran Daly
At a meeting of the Thai Commission on National Competitiveness Enhancement, authorities backed the investment which it argues will strengthen the country’s supply chain and bolster EV manufacturing. Sunwoda will fund production facilities for EV batteries and cell-level energy storage systems, with its first factory already under construction in Chonburi Province. The factory will produce lithium-ion battery cells for EV manufacturers and, according to authorities, create over 1000 jobs.
Sunwoda says it also plans to locate research and product development facilities in Thailand, with several potential customers already producing vehicles in Thailand – including Chinese firms such as BYD, Great Wall Motor, Hozon, GAC and more. Narit Therdsteerasukdi, secretary general of the Thailand Board of Investment, said: “Today marks a milestone in the development of Thailand’s EV supply chain, as having EV battery cells produced locally will significantly reinforce our status as a manufacturing hub for EVs and hybrids, and increase the country’s competitiveness. “This project will also help widen the use of ESS and solar energy in our country, and, through the hiring of thousands of Thai engineers and workers, contribute to knowledge transfer in an industry which is of critical importance for the future.
” Headquartered in Shenzen, China, Sunwoda’s battery cell facilities will be its first EV-related battery cell factory in the ASEAN region. Other Chinese firms, such as Chongqing Changan Automobile and Chery Automobile, are also set to open local manufacturing facilities in Thailand..
