A new plant near Mandalay is poised to build the first Myanmar-made Chinese cars by Gold AYA Motor International. According to a report by the Myanmar Times, the subsidiary of the Chinese Shining Star Group of Companies, invested around USD 30 million into the plant. It is located in Mandalay’s Myotha Industrial Zone. The plant will initially produce ten car models, including luxury cars, commercial cars, pickup trucks and SUVs for Chinese brands. The company plans to make 50,000 cars in he next five years. Initially, these will be composed of roughly 40% Myanmar-made parts. A company spokesperson said eventually Gold AYA Motor plans to broaden its parts manufacturing capacity and produce the first entirely “Myanmar-made” vehicles.
Although Gold Aya Motor will produce Myanmar’s first Chinese cars, Japanese automakers have been operating in Thilawa SEZ for years. The largest, Suzuki Motor Corp, assembles cars from two Myanmar-based plants, according to The Straits Times. In May, Japanese automaker Toyota announced plans to build a factory in the Thilawa SEZ, near Yangon.
