Synopsis: The proposed plant will focus on producing high-quality, safe, and sustainable vehicles for both domestic and regional markets.
Cambodia has been selected as the only country in ASEAN to be granted exclusive rights by General Motors (GM) to assemble Chevrolet vehicles, marking a major milestone in the Kingdom’s automotive industry.
The announcement was made during the official launch of the Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck, held at Premier Center Sen Sok on Friday. Chea Vuthy, Secretary General of the Cambodian Investment Board (CIB) under the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), presided over the event and delivered opening remarks.
In his address, Vuthy extended his congratulations to United Auto Trading for successfully bringing the Chevrolet Colorado to the Cambodian market and praised GM’s strategic decision to choose Cambodia as the sole ASEAN destination for vehicle assembly under its brand.
“This is a proud achievement for Cambodia. It demonstrates international confidence in our workforce, industrial readiness, and long-term economic potential,” he said.
The Secretary-General outlined two key strategies for the private sector to build on this momentum — strengthening the domestic value chain and transforming Cambodia into a hub for the export of both completed vehicles and auto components.
He reaffirmed the Royal Government’s commitment to maintaining a conducive and predictable investment climate, noting recent developments in trade relations with the United States.
Cambodia has successfully negotiated a reduction in countervailing duties — from an initial 49 percent to 36 percent, and now down to 19 percent — providing new opportunities for exporters and strengthening investor confidence.
“This result reflects our strong diplomatic and economic engagement on the global stage,” Vuthy added.
He also expressed appreciation to former US President Donald Trump for his personal involvement in encouraging a ceasefire between Cambodian and Thai forces and for supporting Cambodia’s request for tariff concessions, which he said would further support the Kingdom’s economic growth and bilateral trade ties.
With GM’s endorsement and the launch of the Chevrolet Colorado, Cambodia is taking a major step toward becoming a competitive player in the regional automotive supply chain, creating jobs and new opportunities for industrial development.
It is worth noting that on Friday, United Auto Trading Co., Ltd. (UAT) signed a landmark agreement with General Motors (GM) to assemble Chevrolet vehicles in Cambodia, marking a major step forward for the Kingdom’s automotive manufacturing ambitions.
The deal grants UAT exclusive rights to assemble DKD Chevrolet models at its newly established plant, TH Automotive Manufacturing Co., Ltd., which has a projected annual capacity of 10,000 to 12,000 vehicles. The agreement was signed at the Chevrolet showroom in Phnom Penh, with senior representatives from both companies, the US Embassy, and key business partners in attendance.
With an investment of $19 million, the new facility is expected to create between 500 and 1,000 jobs and support Cambodia’s goal of becoming a competitive player in the global automotive supply chain. The plant will focus on producing high-quality, safe, and sustainable vehicles for both domestic and regional markets.
As of May 2024, Cambodia was home to six operational automotive assembly plants that manufactured a range of vehicles for the domestic market.
These facilities included Daehan Auto, which assembled Ssangyong vehicles; RMA Automotive, which produced Ford models; Camko Motor, manufacturing Hyundai vehicles; HGB Motors Assembly, producing Kia; GTV Motor, which assembled locally branded GTV cars; and Toyota Tsusho Manufacturing (Cambodia), known for producing Fortuner and Hilux models.
Domestic assembly operations helped reduce reliance on imported vehicles while offering locally assembled cars at more affordable prices for Cambodian consumers.
