(Yicai Global) March 13 -- Chinese new energy vehicle makers BYD and Neta Auto have broken ground on new electric car plants in Thailand.

BYD started building its first overseas electric vehicle assembly line, located in Thailand's eastern Rayong province, on March 10, CCTV News reported. The factory will cover 96 hectares and is scheduled to begin production next year with an annual capacity of 150,000 units.

Neta Auto also began construction work the same day on its first overseas plant, the Jiaxing-based company said yesterday. Production at the Bangkok plant is expected to begin at the end of next January with a capacity of 20,000 vehicles per year, it added.

BYD debuted its sports utility vehicle, the Atto 3, in the Thai market last November, and has delivered over 10,000. The new plant will allow some shipping and customs clearance procedures to be bypassed and boost BYD's delivery efficiency in the country, the CCTV report said, citing the Shenzhen-based firm.

Neta Auto also penned an agreement with Thailand's Bangchan General Assembly to jointly build an auto assembly factory that will be the Chinese firm's main production and export base for right-hand-drive EVs to countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Neta Auto kicked off overseas business last year, setting up a unit in Thailand and a European division. The automaker released three models in the ASEAN, South Asian, and Middle East markets, unveiling the first in Thailand.

Editor: Martin Kadiev