Chery vehicles to roll into Thai market this year

Shanghai, March 17 (Gasgoo.com) China's Chery vehicles will be delivered to Thailand this year and local production may follow ongoing talks with Chery Auto, Thai media reported yesterday.

Chery's authorized importer and distributor, Thai Chery Yarnyon Co., held a preview on Monday of three imported Chery models: the 1.1-liter QQ subcompact car, 2.0-liter Tiggo SUV and 2.4-liter Cross mini MPV.

Mr. Vithit Leenutaphong, president of Thai Chery Yarnyon's partner Thai Yarnyon Group, said 4,000 to 5,000 Chery vehicles will be imported to Thailand this year, with the QQ from China and the Tiggo and Cross from Chery's Malaysia facility. Retail prices will be announced later this month at the Bangkok International Motor Show.

Talks with Chery Auto about its vehicles' production in Thailand have started. Thai Chery Yarnyon will ask the largest homegrown Chinese carmaker to make Thailand a regional manufacturing base for right-hand-drive Chery models, which are now built in Indonesia and Malaysia.
 
Thai Chery Yarnyon also aims to produce Chery's hybrid cars in Thailand because of the dual-fuel system's potential market. Last month, Chery launched its plug-in hybrid S18 model that can run up to 150 kilometers on a single charge.