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SAIC opens first battery plant in SE Asian country

Chinese carmaker SAIC Motor announced the opening of its first electric vehicle battery plant in Thailand on Tuesday, as the first localized battery rolled off the assembly line in the factory. The EV battery plant, spanning 12 hectares, has a production capacity of 50,000 units per year and is divided into two main areas. The first one is the battery assembly area, which is fully automated, and the second area is designated for battery standard testing, which involves more than 60 processes. Zhao Feng, president of SAIC Motor-CP, a joint venture between SAIC and Charoen Pokphand Group, said they invested 500 million baht ($13.9 million) in the EV battery plant.

Zeekr heading to Hong Kong and Macao

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Zeekr is set to expand its operations to Hong Kong and Macao in 2024. The move will be Zeekr's first venture into right-hand drive markets. The carmaker is planning to introduce its X SUV and 009 MPV to the special administrative regions in the second half of 2024. Three showrooms are to open in Hong Kong and one in Macao. Zeekr's decision to enter these markets follows in the footsteps of its rival, Xpeng, which is backed by Volkswagen and plans to start shipping to Hong Kong in 2024.

US governor praises Tesla Gigafactory

The working model of Tesla Gigafactory Shanghai has benefited both China and the United States, said California Governor Gavin Newsom, during his visit to the factory recently. Newsom test-drove the upgraded Model 3, which was manufactured at Gigafactory Shanghai and has supplied multiple markets in the Asia-Pacific and Europe. Newsom expressed appreciation for the China-US cooperation model. He said: " … during the day, the engineers (in Shanghai) are working on the new models, while during the evening, they shift over and transfer to the United States because they are awake. So this rotation, 24/7 collaborative spirit, back and forth, is healthy." Newsom described the role of Tesla Gigafactory Shanghai in the cooperation between the countries as "demonstrable", as it has created employment opportunities and demonstrated an entrepreneurial spirit of innovation.

Renault chiefs meet Chinese partners

Luca de Meo, CEO of Renault Group, along with members of the Renault Group management committee, arrived in China recently to kick off a one-week visit. The management committee members met with Renault China Chairman and CEO Weiming Soh and the Renault China team. They held discussions with partners like Dongfeng Motor, Geely Group and China International Capital Corporation to explore possibilities for future collaboration, focusing on key topics like participation in China's new energy ecosystem and enabling the global industry chain. In the future, Renault China will concentrate on two areas: enhancing vehicle research and development capabilities and exploring connections with the Chinese industrial ecosystem.

No decision on fourth Volkswagen site

German car group Volkswagen will not make a decision on a fourth battery factory site for now, with demand for electric vehicles in Europe lagging expectations, Chairman Oliver Blume said on Wednesday. Volkswagen has been looking at a possible site for a gigafactory for electric car batteries in Eastern Europe and had put off a decision a year ago when it was considering locations in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland or Slovakia. It said earlier this year it was in no rush to make a decision. Volkswagen has selected sites for battery cell production in Germany, Spain and Canada, which it said had combined production potential of up to 200 gigawatt-hours per year.

Agencies - Motoring