Aion, the electric vehicle unit of Chinese automaker GAC Group, said on Wednesday that it has signed a memorandum of cooperation with Thailand’s car dealership Gold Integrate to begin sales and operations in the second-biggest economy in Southeast Asia. The move is part of the company’s plan to establish a regional headquarters in the country later this year, which will serve as a base for further business expansion in the region, according to a statement. Guangzhou-based Aion reported sales of 166,323 vehicles for the first five months of this year, representing a year-on-year growth of 118% and making it the third top-selling EV brand in China after BYD and Tesla, according to figures from the China Passenger Car Association. [GAC announcement, in Chinese]
