#Thailand #Changan Automobile #NEV #Rayong

ChangAn's Revolutionary Factory in Rayong, Thailand

On May 17, 2025, ChangAn Automobile proudly inaugurated its first international manufacturing plant for New Energy Vehicles (NEV) in Rayong, Thailand. This factory symbolizes a transformative milestone in the company's global expansion as it merges sustainable, low-emission production with intelligent digital systems aimed at improving efficiency and quality while reducing costs.

This opening coincides with the production of ChangAn's milestone vehicle number 28,590,000, underscoring the company's significant strides in industrial globalization. The venture is part of ChangAn's ambitious "Vast Ocean Plan," which shifts focus from merely exporting products to owning a global industrial footprint, solidifying its brand, and pushing for green digital innovations.

The factory boasts five fully automated plants dedicated to welding, painting, general assembly, engine manufacturing, and battery production. Impressively, it achieves a 90% automation rate across critical quality control checkpoints, one of the highest in the Thai automotive sector. Encompassing energy-saving and environmental-friendly technologies, the facility's photovoltaic system generates 14 MW, providing 45% of the plant's energy needs. Air circulation towers, natural lighting, and rainwater recycling systems enhance energy use, curtailing energy costs by approximately 5%.

ChangAn's innovative production system is designed to lower manufacturing costs while efficiently producing high-value vehicles. The welding plant is equipped with 39 robots employing advanced material joining techniques—FDS, EPS, and SPR—ensuring durability surpassing traditional assembly methods. The painting section features 29 robotic arms utilizing advanced spraying techniques, extending paint longevity to 15 years and slashing emissions by 40%. The production line accommodates 140 stations, encompassing 18 fully automated and 125 semi-automated stations. Automation technologies like automatic seal adjustments and AGV carts facilitate flexible production across various models while supporting numerous devices.

As a predominantly digital factory, ChangAn leverages a comprehensive digital ecosystem built on microservices architecture for all online operations. Real-time scheduling enhances supply chain coordination, reducing order delivery cycles from 21 to 15 days. The ChangAn Quality Operating System (CAQOS) ensures comprehensive quality management from part suppliers through vehicle production to market services, utilizing 77 monitoring cameras and 62 reliable checkpoints across 71 proactive quality processes.

Looking ahead, ChangAn plans to shift 80% of its production to the Rayong facility, generating approximately 30,000 jobs while promoting low-emission development and cultivating skilled specialists through Thailand’s green transformation. The company aims to establish a hub servicing Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, with ambitious targets of exceeding 5 million total vehicle sales, including 3 million NEVs by 2030. Over the next three years, ChangAn will introduce 12 NEV models and enhance AI functionalities, supported by a new parts center in Rayong delivering to right-hand traffic markets around the clock.

According to Shen Xinghua, Managing Director of ChangAn’s South Asia Business Division, "After 556 days of dedicated effort from over 2000 employees and partners worldwide, we have built a factory characterized by efficiency, modernity, and intelligent solutions. We operate with a long-term vision. Together, we will shape a cleaner, smarter, and stronger future for the automotive industry—both in Thailand and across the globe."