Inpow Battery, the battery division of Chinese automotive manufacturer GAC Group, has commenced manufacturing operations at a facility in Thailand. On October 29, the inaugural battery pack emerged from the production line at the Chonburi province site. This marks Inpow's inaugural manufacturing location beyond China's borders and represents GAC's first overseas in-house battery pack assembly plant.
Supplying Southeast Asian EV Markets
According to Inpow, the Thai facility will serve as a supply source for GAC's battery-powered vehicles destined for Thailand and neighbouring ASEAN nations. The company has achieved cumulative deliveries surpassing 300,000 battery packs to date. These components power vehicles across GAC's lineup, encompassing the Aion i60, Aion N60, and Aion UT models.
The Thai operation focuses on battery pack assembly. Inpow has remained silent regarding whether cell manufacturing will occur at the location. The company has also withheld details concerning production capacity, capital expenditure, and the sourcing of battery cells. Inpow's overall capital commitment totals 10.9 billion yuan, equivalent to roughly $1.62 billion.
Beyond battery production, Inpow intends to establish a partnership with Thailand's Electricity Generating Authority of EGAT focusing on electric vehicles, battery storage systems, and related energy infrastructure. Inpow notes that Thailand has established an objective for zero-emission vehicles to comprise 30 percent of national vehicle manufacturing by 2030.
GAC Aion, the company's vehicle brand, inaugurated its maiden manufacturing facility outside China in Rayong province during July 2024. The initial phase of this plant carries an annual production capacity of 50,000 electric vehicles, with expansion plans to increase output by an additional 50,000 units. Notably, GAC stated in 2023 that battery manufacturing in Thailand was not part of its near-term strategy.
Source: Battery-News
