Thailand’s national oil and gas conglomerate PTT announced this week that it will team up with Chinese electric vehicle company WM Motors to study the feasibility of making EVs in Thailand. WM Motors markets its EVs under the Weltmeister brand, and the EX5 SUV pictured above is its first product, with over 10,000 units sold in China.
According to the Bangkok Post, PTT plans to invest in a manufacturing plant for EVs in Thailand, while developing battery and plastic products. The current feasibility study also includes the appointment of PTT as the authorised distributor for WM Motors, for both domestic sales and export markets.
“PTT plans to be the EV export hub in Southeast Asia. The collaboration will be in research and development activities for EV batteries and other relevant businesses in accordance with the government’s Thailand 4.0 initiative,” the company said in an announcement.
In China, WM Motors sells three versions of the Weltmeister EX5. The base EX5 300 is powered by a 48 kWh battery good for a claimed 300 km range. There’s also an EX5 400 (52.5 kWh, 400 km) and EX5 500 (56.9 kWh, 460 km). All batteries are paired to an electric motor producing 218 PS (160 kW) and 315 Nm of torque. An EX5 Pro variant with an aerokit and 59.5 kWh battery was launched at this year’s Shanghai show.
GALLERY: Weltmeister EX5
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Cue the “Thailand dah jual to China” comments.
Weltmeister translated to Worldmaster. Such an ambitious name, don’t you think so?
Very bold and foresighted of PTT. Kudos.
They are on the right track