Chinese carmaker Geely and Malaysia’s Proton consider EV plant in Thailand, Thai prime minister says

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia — Malaysia’s national carmaker Proton and its Chinese partner Geely are considering setting up a plant in Thailand to produce electric vehicles, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said on Wednesday.

Srettha said after talks with Malaysian leader Anwar Ibrahim that the two sides would hold a meeting to identify the next step “and move forward quickly.”

He didn’t provide further details. Geely holds a 49.9% stake in Proton, which is owned by local conglomerate DRB-Hicom Berhad. The Chinese carmaker’s entry into Proton in 2017 has given it a foothold in Southeast Asia and helped restore the fortune of the once dominant Malaysian brand.

DRB-Hicom and…