Arun+ is ready to drive Thailand EV ecosystem.
ARUN PLUS
ARUN PLUS is a Thai company prepared to be the leader of the comprehensive EV ecosystem. We aim at driving Thailand towards EV society with the comprehensive EV ecosystem from manufacturing to charging stations.
ARUN PLUS, a company in the PTT group (100% of stocks), was established in February 2021. The objective is to operate the EV business, to support the rapid growth of the EV industry, following the vision of PTT. We support and build the comprehensive EV ecosystem from upstream to downstream.
Is Arun+ ready for EV?
In 2023, Arun+ will continue to construct an EV manufacturing plant and seek customers who would like to produce in our plant.
Mr. Yim said that “The construction of the EV manufacturing plant is an investment via Horizon Plus Co., Ltd, which is a joint venture between Arun Plus and Foxconn. Now, we have already procured a terrain at Rojana Industrial Estate, Chon Buri Province. The construction is set to begin in the fourth quarter of 2022 (end of 2022). Next year, 2023, we will focus mainly on the construction of the plant. We will be able to produce various styles of EV, not limited only to the plant’s style. And we produce finished cars in the plant.
Arun Plus is negotiating with OEN brands from many interested countries including China and European countries that plan to base their EV manufacturing and selling in Thailand.
We also have FOXCONN EV platform as an option for EV. FOXCONN platform provides readymade EV structure to automobile brands interesting in developing car body that will be assembled on FOXCONN platform. The structure proposed by FOXCONN is customizable in styles or sizes. Multipurpose vehicles can also be developed on FOXCONN platform.
Interested brands can save costs of driving system and only focus fully on design and software.
Apart from four-wheel cars, what kinds of car can Arun Plus plant produce?
Mr. Yim added that “Our plant builds only four-wheel car model because it is the most sold.
Thailand produces about 2 million four-wheel cars per year: one million for export, and another one million for domestic market, making Thailand the 8th world automobile exporter. (ที่มา : https://www.worldstopexports.com)
However, Arun Plus is having a constructive discussion with many Thai entrepreneurs including manufacturers and sellers of motorcycle and commercial vehicle like bus”.
What about an opportunity of exporting EV?
He said “Arun Plus’s plant is able to build both right-hand-drive and left-hand-drive models to support domestic and international needs, not limited only to domestic markets. Our plant can build OEM on the orders of every brand”.
Many people wonder that, in the past few months, Arun Plus has announced the cooperation with NETA to do business in Thailand. But now, NETA seems to face delays in delivering cars. Does this relate to Arun plus?
“NETA has discussed the possibility of Horizon Plus, Arun Plus’s subsidiary, to produce cars. But that will start in 2 years. So, cars that are on the market now are imported from China.
Car brands that intend to be in the project must have a manufacturing base in Thailand, as stipulated in the contract with Thai government. So, we are an option in this project. Initially, NETA wanted to build its own plant, but it required a huge investment. So, NETA turned to us instead. And now, NETA is discussing the details with the government, and we will have a conclusion soon”. Mr. Yin said.
Updates on EV brands that will be made by Arun Plus.
Almost every brand is interested in Thai market. That’s why many brands plan to build plants under 2-year time frame of the government. We do not consider these brands as direct competitor of Arun Plus but as that of Arun Plus’s customers. We just make their cars, while they deal with sales and marketing. So, we are not their direct competitor.
We see the manufacturing as middle stream with a part of upstream, especially about the components in EV manufacturing like car controlling, battery, and electric motor. We are establishing cooperation with these world car manufacturers. And when we have it in full scale, they will be more interested in making cars with us.
As for downstream, especially about EV charging, we have created On-ion to provide charging points and charging stations outside gas stations like department stores, and convention and exposition centers.
We also have EVme that is a platform for EV rental. This will create opportunity of marketing channels for the car brands. They can rent their cars via this platform.
How do you perceive the future of Arun Plus’s EV charging stations?
Mr. Yim continued that “Thai government supports EV. The sales of EVs increase so sharply that some brands have to suspend the reservation temporarily. This is a clear sign that people want to use EVs.
But there is a controversial issue. The EV charging station investors worry about the number of EV users, while the EV buyers are concerned about the number of charging stations.
However, this issue has been solved partly because a huge number of EV reservation.
We know that there will be a constantly increasing demand. But EV users tend to charge their cars at home, except when they make a long journey. They will charge at a charging station. Now, OR opens charging stations in gas stations. Both On-ion and OR are driving towards the EV ecosystem.
From the data we had collected, most of EV users prefer DC to AC. We also use these data to consider our future investment.”
As for EVme, the platform for EV rental, Mr. Yim told us that Evme can also become EV selling dealer. This is planned as a topic of discussion with the car brands. If the car brands see this as an online marketing channel, we can cooperate with them. EVme was designed for everyone to try driving an EV for 3 to 7 days or a year.
A lot of people do not perceive the EV as an asset but as a vehicle service from one point to another point. They will pay only if they use. This is the mobility on demand. And it responds to lifestyle of this group of people. They do not want to buy but rent a car.
For us, we can expand our business and services through this channel in the future.
What about Arun Plus plan for the future?
Mr. Yim said that “We are focusing mainly on upstream and downstream EV manufacturing beginning from car components necessary for car body. We also welcome the existing component makers to work with us. For the components that we cannot find in Thailand, we try to attract the manufacturers to invest in Thailand. This is one of our primary missions.
As for the manufacturing sector (midstream), Horizon Plus intend to entice customers to produce with us.
And for the downstream, it concerns the charging station network and EVme. EVme has 400 cars available, but not enough for rental. So, we plan to procure more cars.
All of this is important, it is the heart of EV ecosystem. We are open for all business partnerships that willingly drive and develop the industry together. We are also open for new ideas, and more cooperation.”
Arun Plus is ready for EVs.
All are in place for Arun Plus to drive Thailand towards a comprehensive EV ecosystem, from EV components, finished EVs, driving tryout to charging station network, responding to all the needs in clean energy vehicles. Apart from creating the EV ecosystem in Thailand, Arun Plus also aims to drive Thailand to become world leader in EV industry.
Link: https://www.autospinn.com/2022/10/car-ev-exclusive-interview-with-arun-plus-ceo-91614
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