The Changan Avatr EV has already been launched in Thailand, so why not Malaysia too?
Avatr, the premium EV brand under China’s Chongqing Changan Automobile, officially launched the RHD version of its flagship SUV, the Avatr 11, in Thailand last September, marking a bold entry into Southeast Asia’s competitive EV market. The model has been well-received in Thailand, where EV adoption is accelerating at a rapid pace.
The standard-range Avatr 11 is priced at 2,099,000 baht (approximately USD 63,150), while the long-range version costs 2,299,000 baht. Deliveries began in November 2024, and early sales have been promising, according to regional automotive sources.
Moreover, Changan Auto’s commitment to the region is underscored by its 20 billion baht (USD 600 million) investment in a new EV manufacturing plant in Rayong, Thailand, slated to begin production by March 2025. This plant follows a similar move by rival BYD, which opened its Thai factory in July 2024, investing 32 billion baht (USD 960 million).
To support local production, Changan also secured partnerships with over 70 local suppliers, 80 percent of which are Thai-owned, through agreements with the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) signed in June 2024. Thailand is emerging as the EV gateway to Southeast Asia, thanks to a combination of favorable policies, geographic advantage, and robust local demand.
Under the government’s 2024–2027 EV incentive scheme, excise tax on imported EVs under 7 million baht also dropped from 8 to 2 percent and businesses can deduct twice the value of locally-made electric commercial vehicles, and 1.5 times for imported ones.
On top of that, these incentives have helped Chinese EV brands dominate the Thai market, accounting for 89 percent of EV sales from January to April 2024, according to Thailand’s AUTO LIFE. EVs now make up 14 percent of total Q1 vehicle sales, with forecasts pointing to 150,000 units sold by end-2024, about 20 percent of all vehicle production.
With a successful right-hand drive launch in Thailand and growing brand awareness, why hasn’t Avatr launched in Malaysia yet? Malaysia shares many similarities with Thailand: a right-hand drive market, a growing appetite for EVs, and government incentives for clean mobility. Yet, despite its strategic location and potential, Malaysia has yet to see a formal Avatr entry.
Could the delay be due to infrastructure readiness, regulatory hurdles, or market prioritization? As Changan Auto deepens its Southeast Asian footprint, Malaysian EV enthusiasts are left wondering: When will Avatr arrive, and what’s the holdup?
