GAC has opened a battery-pack assembly plant in Chonburi, Thailand, marking the Chinese automaker’s first such facility outside China. The factory is operated by Inpow Battery, GAC’s wholly owned battery subsidiary, and covers more than 13,000 square metres. The reported investment exceeds 50 million yuan (about RM30.5 million).
The first production phase is planned for an annual output of 7,000 packs. GAC says capacity could rise to 20,000 packs in a second phase. Initial production is intended for GAC vehicles assembled in Thailand from completely knocked-down kits, including the Aion Y Plus.
The plant uses automated assembly equipment, including robotic welding and CCD visual-inspection systems for laser-weld quality checks. GAC reports a local sourcing rate of 78.85%, and says the facility operates to ISO 9001 and IATF 16949 standards. Each pack must also pass a 1,500-volt insulation withstand test and IP68 water- and dust-protection testing. Inpow has produced more than 300,000 battery packs globally to date.