Great Wall Motor (GWM) has introduced plans to develop its enterprise in Southeast Asia by including Malaysia and three different international locations to its regional operations this yr. This was revealed by Elliot Zhang, president of Great Wall Motor ASEAN and Thailand, throughout a 2022 outlook briefing for the Thai market, Nikkei Asia studies.
“In 2022, we will continue to expand our business in ASEAN, with Thailand as the location for our regional headquarters. In an effort to expand further within the ASEAN region, we plan to launch GWM in four more countries, namely Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines, and Singapore,” he stated. The model is at present current in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Brunei.
The automaker entered Thailand final yr when it acquired General Motors’s assembly plant, and it reiterated its intention of constructing the facility its manufacturing hub for Southeast Asia. “We already have our plant in Rayong, and we’ll continue to invest in the plant to be the hub to produce our products for the ASEAN market,” Zhang stated.
The model additionally outlined its progress technique for Thailand, saying that it’s set to launch 5 new models in the nation and bringing gross sales in that market to 20,000 items this yr, considerably up from the three,702 items it did in 2021.
The firm added that it’ll proceed its enlargement into electrification in Thailand, the place it expects to see important growth in the section this yr. According to GWM Thailand MD Narong Sritalayon, Thailand’s complete annual automotive gross sales is expected to attain 850,000 items in 2022, up 12% from the earlier yr, and of that complete, 11.4% (or about 94,000 items) could be electrified models.
This could be greater than double the 40,000 electrified autos bought in the nation final yr, he stated. To develop the market, Narong stated the corporate will make investments in EV infrastructure, notably in charging stations, which the corporate hopes to develop to 55 nationwide this yr.
The model’s market return to Malaysia is expected to see a trio of models being launched right here. This consists of the Haval Jolion, which was sighted here last year after which once more last month. In Thailand, the B-section SUV is accessible as a hybrid, powered by an electrified 1.5 litre turbocharged 4 that makes a mixed 190 PS and 375 Nm of torque, with a DCT sending energy to the entrance wheels.
There can also be the Haval H6, which in Thailand is bought in its plug-in hybrid kind. It’s powered by a 1.5 litre turbocharged engine and electrical motor, providing 243 PS and 530 Nm. The third mannequin is the Ora Good Cat, which was previewed at an event final December. It was indicated at that time that the EV was coming our method, expected to be launched by Go Auto this yr.
GALLERY: Haval Jolion Hybrid, Thailand market
GALLERY: Haval H6 Plug-in Hybrid
GALLERY: GWM Ora Good Cat, LHD preview in Malaysia
