Great Wall vows local BEV effort

Chinese sport utility vehicle manufacturer Great Wall Motor (GWM) vows to start producing battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in Thailand in 2024 as part of its 22.6-billion-baht investment to strengthen its business and make the country an EV production and research hub.

“It is possible to make our ORA Good Cat in Thailand. The company currently imports this model from China to sell here,” said Elliot Zhang, president of Great Wall Motor Asean and Thailand.

ORA Good Cat is in the BEV category and runs completely on electricity. The model was launched in Thailand late last year and recorded sales of 462 units.

The company sold a total of 3,702 cars in Thailand in 2021.

Mr Zhang said the company expects to invest in battery production by 2023 to serve its EV assembly.

“We will gradually improve our batteries, electric motors and spare parts,” he said.

This year, GWM…