Changan’s Rayong Plant: Benchmark for Smart, Sustainable Manufacturing

Following the official launch of Changan Automobile’s first overseas NEV manufacturing base in Rayong, Thailand, the spotlight now turns to the factory itself - a state-of-the-art facility that exemplifies Changan’s vision for intelligent, low-carbon manufacturing.

The Rayong facility is a key component of Changan’s Vast Ocean Plan - a strategic shift from vehicle exports to localised, full-scale industrial operations. This move underscores the company's ambition to build a global presence in products, manufacturing, branding, and digital innovation.

Built on a sprawling 960,000 square meter site, the factory is designed around efficiency, quality, and sustainability. It integrates cutting-edge automation and digital technologies, with five major workshops - including welding, painting, assembly, and battery production - achieving 90% automation at key quality control stages.

This places it among the most advanced automotive plants in Thailand. The Rayong Factory integrates advanced automation across its key production areas. The welding workshop features 39 robots and uses FDS, EPS, and SPR technologies for enhanced structural strength.

As for the painting workshop it operates with 29 robots, extending paint life to 15 years and cutting emissions by 40%. The assembly line includes 140 stations - 18 fully and 125 semi-automated - supported by Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) and smart tools for multi-model, multi-power production. The battery workshop meanwhile runs 22 precision processes with 45 AGVs, ensuring efficient and flexible manufacturing.

Additionally, sustainability is built into every aspect of the plant’s design. A 14MW solar power system will provide 45% of its electricity needs. The plant also features recirculating air towers, natural light systems, and rainwater recycling will reduce energy use and lower operational costs, contributing to a 5% decrease in overall energy consumption.

Digitisation plays a central role. A microservice-based digital ecosystem enables 100% online operations, real-time scheduling and improved supply chain coordination. This has already shortened delivery cycles from 21 days to just 15.

The company’s proprietary Changan Quality Operating System (CAQOS) ensures seamless quality management across all production stages, supported by 77 surveillance cameras and 62 fail-safe checkpoints.

However, Changan is looking ahead even further with plans to localise up to 80% of production at the Rayong plant and create 30,000 jobs, further supporting Thailand’s green transition and regional economic development.

Additionally, a new spare parts center will also be set up to support right-hand drive markets with 24-hour delivery capabilities.

With 12 new energy models from all three of its brands - Changan, Deepal and Avatr - set to launch over the next three years, the Rayong factory will play a central role in Changan’s goal of achieving 5 million vehicle global sales - including 3 million NEVs - by 2030. The facility's initial annual capacity is expected to be 100,000 vehicles and is expected to double by 2027.

According to Shen Xinghua, Managing Director of Changan’s Southeast Asia Business Unit, the Rayong factory took 556 days to set up thanks to the dedication from over 2,000 employees and partners around the world.

He also added, “We are here for the long run. Together, we will help shape a cleaner, smarter, and stronger automotive future In the kingdom nation staying true to the tagline - In Thailand, For Thailand and For the world.”

The Rayong factory also offers a glimpse into what Malaysia’s own Automotive High-Tech Valley (AHTV) project in Tanjung Malim might look like and how it could operate, especially with significant investment and technical input from Geely. As regional automotive ecosystems continue to evolve, facilities like Rayong set a benchmark for smart, sustainable, and integrated manufacturing.