Cambodia Granted Exclusive Rights in ASEAN to Assemble Chevrolet Vehicles

Cambodia has become the only country in the ASEAN region to receive exclusive rights from General Motors (GM) to assemble Chevrolet vehicles. 

The opening of the new Chevrolet assembly plant was announced on August 1, 2025, at the launch event of the Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck. This announcement follows the opening of the BYD assembly plant in April 2025, and the Toyota and ZO Motors plants in 2024.

Located in Kampong Chhnang province, the plant—which will be operated by TH Automotive Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (THG), under United Auto Trading (UAT)—represents an investment of USD 19 million, and is expected to produce 10,000 to 12,000 vehicles per year, as well as employ 500 to 1,000 Cambodian workers.

GM and UAT officially signed the landmark agreement on August 1, allowing UAT to assemble DKD Chevrolet vehicles in Cambodia. The signing was attended by Norm Hav, Managing Director of THG; Hector Villarreal, President and Managing Director of GM Asia Pacific, and Bridgette L. Walker, Chargé d’Affaires, U.S. Embassy in Cambodia.

Villarreal is noted to have said that Cambodia’s geographic location, workforce, and infrastructure make it suitable for automotive assembly. A representative from UAT also expressed hope that the USD 19 million investment will help expand local production and provide job opportunities.

During the launch ceremony of the Chevrolet Colorado, Chea Vuthy, Secretary-General of the Cambodian Investment Board (CIB), congratulated UAT on securing the deal with GM, and underlined that Cambodia is the only ASEAN country granted these assembly rights. He encouraged UAT to focus on two areas: building stronger domestic supply chains, and preparing for regional export of vehicles and auto parts.

He also mentioned the government’s efforts to maintain a stable investment climate, including recent reductions in Cambodia’s countervailing duty rate from the United States from 49 per cent to 36 per cent, and then to 19 per cent.

Vuthy thanked the U.S. President, Donald Trump, for supporting a ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand, and for helping to lower the tariff rate, which he said would support Cambodia’s trade with the United States.

With the launch of Chevrolet and BYD plants in 2025, Cambodia now has a total of nine car assembly facilities. These include existing plants for Ford, Toyota, Hyundai, Kia, SsangYong, ISUZU, and GTV, located in Phnom Penh and the provinces of Svay Rieng, Pursat, Koh Kong, Banteay Meanchey, and Kandal.