China’s SAIC eyes Thailand as RHD production hub

China’s SAIC eyes Thailand as RHD production hub

Chinese auto giant SAIC Motor is looking to set up shop in Thailand, eyeing our northern neighbour as a right-hand drive production hub for export to RHD countries in ASEAN and beyond. SAIC is working with Thailand’s CP Group on this, Bangkok Post reported.

According to CP vice-chairman Thanakorn Seriburi, both parties will complete feasibility studies for the project by the fourth quarter this year.

“The study will include the cost of investment for making at least 50,000 passenger cars a year. The entry of the company would mean not only Chinese investment in the assembly plant, but also in auto parts,” Seriburi added.

China’s SAIC eyes Thailand as RHD production hub

SAIC, for Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation, may be a faceless name to many, but the company is China’s number one automaker, with a mammoth 3.64 million vehicles made last year.

It is the owner of the classic British MG brand, and makes premium cars under its own brand Roewe. SAIC is also the local partner for Volkswagen and GM, the top two foreign automakers in China.

The grey hatch above is the MG5 and the orange notchback is the MG6. Click here to see a gallery of the supermini sized MG3 and here to view MG’s latest concept for the Beijing show. The “new MG” could be coming, anyone interested?

Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.

10% discount when you renew your car insurance

Compare prices between different insurer providers and use the promo code 'PAULTAN10' when you make your payment to save the most on your car insurance renewal compared to other competing services.

Car Insurance

Danny Tan

Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.

 

Comments

  • /ngeTaRD on May 08, 2012 at 12:38 pm

    from china,japan,US to EU brand but they all made in Thailand!! Malaysia should set up its Preve production line there too. it wouldnt be wrong

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • It clearly stated in the article about “cost”…in term of cost malaysia already lost.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • oblong on May 08, 2012 at 12:41 pm

    P1, please ‘facelift’ Satria Neo to look like MG5!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • oblong, u r right, the NEO is already long over due. others car maker already has it replaced by all new model, P1 still selling, and ppl still buying!

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Jaybond on May 08, 2012 at 2:18 pm

    Roewe badge could be a bit difficult to attract the discerning buyers in Malaysia, but MG could be a different story (provided it still British engineered and designed)..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • VoidDance on May 08, 2012 at 2:34 pm

    Wow, our NAP works really well… for Thailand dan Indonesia.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Article said bout cost..for sure malaysia already loss..now gov already enforce RM900 minimum wage make cost even higher…some said RM900 is too little…we can only compete in term of product quality n high skill educated workforce

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
      • kzm, it is not marely cost issue. the root cause is our gov automotive policy. this is the price rakyat need to pay for having national car!

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
        • awesome on May 09, 2012 at 10:00 am

          one of the answer for this is the gov must doesnt tax Proton n perodua, and then the tax on foreign brand cars can also be reduced to about just 25%, then we will see a Proton Saga for rm25k-30k and toyota vios for rm50k something like that. it would be greatly cheaper and our people wont had to be burden by the current loans that takes 7-9 years to settle.

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Unforgiven on May 08, 2012 at 10:50 pm

      Of course, if you are an investor, NAP will definitely scare you away.

      Hopefully we are able to maintain others like Panasonic, etc. Or you may have option for Pensonic as pet.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • abdul123 on May 08, 2012 at 4:02 pm

    All because of Dr M pet project Proton.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • kjryth on May 08, 2012 at 6:03 pm

    mmg jahil pergi siam …malaysia lebih cantik

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Han!h on May 08, 2012 at 6:46 pm

    BMW 5-series butt! haha…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • samsam on May 09, 2012 at 12:00 pm

    wow, every brand in thailand d? its really quite fast, aduh.. malaysia keep moving forward pls..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • aside from the policies and such, would any of you buy an MG? if it were to be made available over here?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • a.car.fan on May 15, 2012 at 12:56 pm

    I’d love to see some MGs roll on the streets of the Philippines..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

Add a comment

required

required