After recently becoming the distributor for Geely, the Thonburi Group has secured another Chinese automotive brand for marketing in Thailand.
The company announced that it has joined hands with NIO Inc, owner of the NIO, ONVO and firefly electric vehicle brands, to market the three brands in the Thai market via Thonburi Blue Sky Co Ltd, starting in 2026.
All three brands will be introduced in Thailand, with firefly, which produces compact city cars, to be launched first, followed by ONVO, which produces family-type vehicles, and the premium EV brand NIO, the release stated.
The Thonburi Group has a long history in the Thai automobile scene, building its empire from being the sole distributor of Mercedes-Benz cars for several decades prior to the entry of the parent company.
Thonburi has maintained strong relations with the German automaker, and continues to assemble Mercedes-Benz vehicles at the Thonburi automotive assembly Plant (TAAP) in Samut Prakarn province. Since 1979, more than 200,000 Mercedes-Benz vehicles were produced here, and Thonburi has also been investing heavily into automotive battery production for various Mercedes-Benz models.
Ratapon Viriyaphan, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Thonburi Group, said, “Thailand’s electric vehicle market is showing clear growth and will be a key driver of the Thai automotive industry in the long term.”
“Consumers are increasingly viewing EVs as a long-term option, and the collaboration between Thonburi Bluesky and NIO therefore lays the foundation for a premium EV market, encompassing product development, service networks and the EV ecosystem,” he added.
Ratapon said Thonburi is looking at long-term goals covering market structure, service networks and consumer trust.
“The transition to the EV era must be accompanied by quality, service and a clear infrastructure to support future demand – which is what Thonburi Bluesky and NIO are committed to developing together in Thailand,” Ratapon said, “We are ready to combine our over 80 years of experience with Neo’s leading technology to create a sustainable EV ecosystem and strengthen consumer confidence in the Thai market.”
NIO founder and CEO William Lee said, “Thailand has high potential to drive the electric vehicle market, based on consumer demand, government policies, infrastructure and industry readiness. Collaborating with Thonburi Blue Sky, which has a strong business base and in-depth understanding of the Thai market, will enable NIO to systematically establish an integrated EV ecosystem in Thailand.”
Founded in 2014, NIO also pioneered the battery swap system with automated stations. Over time, the NIO Power Swap has grown into the world’s largest battery swap network, and the brand is present in 24 countries around the world.
