Leapmotor is studying Thai assembly with a target capacity of 60,000 to 80,000 vehicles per year, a plan the Chinese EV maker's board has already backed with fast-track budget approvals. The company confirmed the figure through its newly established local subsidiary, which is weighing four routes to localisation.

The Stellantis-partnered automaker registered Leapmotor (Thailand) Co., Ltd. in recent weeks with capital of 100 million baht (about €2.6 million), taking direct control of a market it previously served through importer and distributor Phra Nakorn Automobile Co., Ltd. (PNA). PNA stays on as a dealer with two Bangkok showrooms, in Lat Phrao and Ratchayothin.

What does this change for Thai manufacturing?

Plenty, potentially. Leapmotor has begun studying local CKD assembly (complete knock-down, meaning vehicles assembled locally from imported kits). A team from China visits Thailand in November for further assessment, Liam Liu, general manager of the Thai subsidiary, told Bangkok Business News. Four options are on the table:

• Outsourcing production to a contract manufacturer
• A joint venture with a local partner
• Acquiring an existing plant
• Building a new facility

Liu framed Thailand as a market of strategic importance. Citing Toyota's decades-long presence, he said Leapmotor wants to build operations spanning manufacturing to after-sales service, staying in the country long-term.

Money won't be the bottleneck, he suggested. "There is no shortage of funds," and the board can approve budget requests within two weeks, Liu said, calling Thailand a key market offering growth potential for new energy vehicles.

Sales base is small — for now

The plant ambition sits atop a modest sales base. Leapmotor launched the C10 mid-size SUV in Thailand in November 2024 and added the B10 compact SUV in October 2025. Combined sales to date: roughly 450 units.

The volume picture changes fast if the B03X small SUV lands as planned on 31 October. Between now and December, Leapmotor expects to sell 3,000 to 5,000 cars, with the B03X carrying most of that volume. For 2027, the plan calls for at least two additional models and sales of 10,000 cars.

Note the gap: an 60,000-80,000 unit assembly operation would far exceed domestic sales targets, pointing to Thailand's role as a potential export hub — though Leapmotor has not said so explicitly.

Retail is scaling ahead of the factory decision. The company's local consumer site lists 12 showrooms and service centres across Thailand. Bangkok Business News reports the network grows to 30 locations by end-2026, 65 in 2027 and 100 in 2028.

What to watch next

The November visit by the China assessment team is the near-term milestone. Expect a decision among the four localisation options to follow, likely before the 2027 model push. The B03X launch on 31 October offers the first test of whether Leapmotor's Thai demand can grow into its plant ambitions.