Changan Auto has begun production at its first overseas new energy vehicle factory in Thailand, as the Chinese automaker accelerates its global expansion strategy.

A right-hand drive version of the Deepal S05 rolled off the assembly line on Friday at the plant in Rayong province, marking the start of operations at Changan's Thai facility.

The factory currently has an annual capacity of 100,000 vehicles, which the company plans to double to 200,000 units in the coming years.

The site will eventually produce models across Changan's three key brands—Changan, Deepal and Avatr.

The company already offers several NEV models in the Thai market, including the Deepal S07, E07 and the Avatr 11.

Over the next three years, it plans to introduce 12 additional NEV models to local consumers.

Beyond vehicle manufacturing, Changan said it would establish a spare parts warehouse in Rayong and work to localize its supply chain. The company expects to generate over 30,000 jobs across the upstream and downstream value chain in Thailand.

Changan has set a goal of reaching 5 million in global sales by 2030, of which overseas sales are to hit 1.2 million units.

In 2024, the company sold 2.684 million vehicles worldwide, including a record 536,000 units overseas—a 49.6 percent increase from a year earlier.