Sunita SomvanshiBYD delivered its 90,000th new energy vehicle in Thailand this week, just as its Rayong factory celebrated its first year of operation.
On July 7, 2025, BYD Chairman Wang Chuanfu handed over the milestone vehicle—a Denza D9—to Nualphan Lamsam, who leads Thailand’s Football Association. The event also showcased the first locally-made BYD SEAL 5, a plug-in hybrid rolling fresh off the Rayong production line.
“BYD’s success shows Thailand’s strong commitment to growing our electric vehicle industry,” said Sumet Tangprasert from the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand during the ceremony.
The Rayong plant opened in July 2024 after a 35 billion baht ($900 million) investment. Spanning 948,000 square meters, it can make 150,000 vehicles yearly, making it a key player in Thailand’s push to become an EV manufacturing center.
Since arriving in 2022, BYD has quickly grabbed about one-third of Thailand’s EV market. Early 2025 numbers show impressive growth, with 21,458 vehicles sold in just the first five months—a 66.5% jump from last year.
The factory employs over 6,100 Thai workers, who make up more than 90% of its workforce. BYD has reached out to over 200 local parts makers through its “BYD Sourcing Day” program, helping create jobs and strengthen Thailand’s auto industry.
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Liu Xueliang, who manages BYD’s Asia-Pacific sales, explained that beyond selling cars, the company supports local communities. This includes providing emergency power with BYD ATTO 3 vehicles during disasters in Northern Thailand.
Thailand’s EV 3.0 policy has helped attract manufacturers like BYD with tax breaks and purchase subsidies up to 150,000 baht per vehicle. The policy requires companies to build locally—for each imported EV, they must produce one locally-made vehicle, increasing to 1.5 local vehicles if production begins in 2025.
The Rayong facility now builds several models including the Dolphin, Atto 3, Seal, and Sealion 6. It handles all four main production stages: forging, welding, painting, and assembly.
Thailand’s EV market is booming, with sales jumping nearly eightfold to 76,000 units in 2023—12% of all vehicles sold in the country. This growth comes as Thailand positions itself as a regional hub for green vehicle production.
The 90,000-vehicle milestone happens during the 50th anniversary of China-Thailand diplomatic relations, highlighting growing economic ties between the nations.
BYD plans to introduce more vehicles designed for Thai consumers and will use the Rayong plant to make right-hand drive vehicles for export to other ASEAN countries, further strengthening Thailand’s role in the region’s shift toward cleaner transportation.
