Sawadeekap. We’re reporting dwell from the 2024 Bangkok Worldwide Motor Present (BIMS) and it feels a bit totally different at Influence Muang Thong Thani this 12 months. The situation of the media room the place I’m stationed at, for one, and the dearth of bodily press tags that necessitate the show of a QR code within the Line app each time we enter a corridor. The latter appears like progress, however is much less person pleasant in apply, very similar to the deletion of steering stalks.
However the true change I’m speaking about is the heavy presence of automobile manufacturers from China at BIMS. This isn’t the primary time in Bangkok for the Chinese language giants, after all, and the likes of SAIC’s MG has been within the Thai marketplace for awhile now, however a few debuting manufacturers offers Chinese language OEMs a dominating presence at Influence.
We’ll begin off with BYD, which is occupying the largest plot for a single model (equal to BMW/MINI and barely smaller than Toyota/Lexus). Not like final 12 months, the Shenzhen-based EV specialist didn’t pack their sales space with its complete line-up from China; as a substitute the brilliant and breezy stand focuses on right-hand drive automobiles which can be on sale in Thailand (and Malaysia) such because the Seal, Dolphin and Atto 3.
We’re additionally accustomed to Nice Wall Motor (GWM) and its Ora-branded EVs just like the Good Cat and 07, however the Baoding-based group additionally has automobiles from sub-brands Tank (rugged-looking SUVs), Haval (mainstream SUVs) and Poer (pick-up truck) within the corridor. The Cannon truck has made a low-key entry in Malaysia however we’re nonetheless ready for the Havals.
The OG China model in Thailand is MG, which is just coming into Malaysia now. The SAIC-owned model with a 100-year-old historical past has its normal vary of EVs and SUVs in the home (MG 4 and ZS SUV EVs are the launch fashions for Malaysia) however taking all of the limelight is the attractive Cyberster, an electrical drop-top sports activities automobile that we’ll present you extra of later.
Changan is making a giant splash at BIMS. The Chongqing carmaker has its Deepal EVs in the home, consisting of the S07 SUV and L07 sedan. Both facet of Deepal within the Changan model hierarchy is Avatr (the 11 SUV is right here) and Lumin, which has an excellent cute EV metropolis automobile because the BIMS fortunate draw prize. Assume Wuling Air EV however with a cartoon face and half-opened eyes.
Sitting reverse Changan is Aion, which is owned by GAC. Aion, the EV sub-brand of the Guangzhou carmaker GAC is now in Malaysia beneath the Tan Chong Group, and we’ve simply previewed the Y Plus crossover/MPV. The model’s full vary is on show right here, from common SUVs and sedans to the Hyper SSR sports activities automobile that does 0-100 km/h in 1.9 seconds. Not like in Malaysia, the group’s namesake GAC model and its ICE automobiles aren’t right here.
Of curiosity to us in Malaysia is Xpeng, which is the newest model to come back beneath the Bermaz umbrella. The EV start-up from Guangzhou has a pleasant, distinctive look to its automobiles, which isn’t a given on the subject of Chinese language manufacturers. The G6 SUV that’s tipped for Malaysia is right here, together with the bigger G9 SUV and the P7, a giant sedan (suppose Mannequin S) with Lamborghini-style doorways. All of the automobiles listed below are left-hand drive and the S4 supercharger on the sales space has China’s personal GB/T port. Oh, and there’s a flying automobile and a robodog too.
We even have Zeekr. Geely’s EV model has slightly nook within the corridor previewing what’s to come back for Thailand, and we see the Zeekr X compact SUV, the 007 sedan and the posh 009 MPV, which is the donor automobile to the Volvo EM90. All of the Zeekr automobiles we see listed below are LHD aside from the funky X.
Lastly, now we have Neta and its V-II, which is principally an facelifted model of the Neta V. Launching right here for the Thai market, the locally-assembled funds EV has a barely revised fascia, a distinctly totally different rear finish (full-width LEDs) and ADAS security/driver help options for the primary time. A conspicuous absence from BIMS is Chery, which had its personal Omoda & Jaecoo media occasion in Thailand final week.
That is only a first-walk overview of BIMS 2024 and we’ll be bringing you extra from the present this week, masking the rising Chinese language contingent and extra acquainted automobile names from Japan, South Korea and Europe. Click on on the hyperlinks to see what these China EVs seem like and keep tuned.
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