Thailand’s Commission on the National Competitiveness Enhancement for Targeted Industries, at a meeting today, approved an investment by a unit of China’s Sunwoda Electronic worth more than a billion dollars in the production of electric vehicle (EV) and energy storage system (ESS) batteries at the cell level, in a move that will strengthen the country’s supply chain and support EV manufacturing for both the domestic and export markets.

The Commission is chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Mr. Pichai Chunhavajira, who is also the Chairman of the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI). The Commission, whose secretariat is under the responsibility of the BOI, was established by law in 2017 to support new industries that add value to the economy and enhance the country’s competitiveness in a sustainable manner.

Sunwoda Automotive Energy Technology (Thailand) Co., Ltd. plans to build its manufacturing facilities in Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor area. The first factory, located in Chonburi Province, will be producing lithium-ion battery cells for EV manufacturers.

The construction of Sunwoda’s first Thai factory is progressing smoothly. The facility is expected to hire more than 1,000 staff once production begins. The entire project, which will include manufacturing as well as research and product development, will employ a significantly greater staff, including a large number of Thai engineers and researchers.

Sunwoda Automotive Energy Technology (Thailand) is a subsidiary of Sunwoda Electronic Co.,Ltd, a company headquartered in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China, which is engaged in the production of batteries for a wide range of electronic devices, mobility, and storage equipment. In China, in 2023, Sunwoda’s SEVB brand ranked first in sales of batteries for hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) and third in sales of batteries for high-end EVs. Sunwoda’s battery cell manufacturing facilities in Thailand will be its first EV-related battery cell factory in the ASEAN region.

Thailand has long been a hub in the conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) auto industry, ranking 10^th in the world and number one in Southeast Asia as a manufacturer in 2023. Since it started promoting investment in the sector’s electrification, with government policies offering subsidies, tax breaks and other incentives to manufacturers and consumers, the country has attracted significant investments in the production of EV and hybrids.

Several major Chinese manufacturers of battery electric vehicles (BEV) have already started making cars in Thailand, including BYD, SAIC Motor (MG), Great Wall Motor, Hozon New Energy Automobile (Neta) and GAC Aion. Chongqing Changan Automobile is scheduled to open its Thai factory in the coming weeks, while Chery Automobile is currently building its local manufacturing facility. The Thai EV ecosystem also includes a fast-growing network of charging stations, the local manufacturing of chargers and significant car parts, and the assembly of battery packs and modules from imported cells.