China's electric vehicle makers are using Hong Kong's annual auto expo this week to signal their ambitions in the Southeast Asian market, with some brands rolling out right-hand drive models for the region's roads.
"Our first priority will be Indonesia," Amy Gong, president of Seres Group subsidiary DSFK, said on the sidelines of the International Automobile and Supply Chain Expo on Thursday. "Expanding manufacturing capacity in the Southeast Asian market depends mainly on demand."
Built in 2017, DSFK's plant in Indonesia's Banten province covers 200,000 square metres, employs around 800 workers and has a production capacity of 50,000 vehicles a year, according to the company.
China's new energy vehicle exports reached 1.83 million units in the first five months of the year, surging 110% year on year and accounting for more than 45% of total vehicle exports, according to state media China National Radio.
Chinese brands, including BYD, Jaecoo and Wuling Motors, captured 17.6% of Indonesia's car market in the first quarter of 2026, data from the Indonesian Automotive Industry Association showed.
"Worrying about price wars is pointless," Gong said. "China's overall supply chain costs are actually quite competitive and that provides a very good platform for all Chinese new energy vehicle companies."
DSFK showcased its right-hand-drive E5 Plus at the expo alongside peers such as Leapmotor and Hongqi Auto, which also unveiled their own right-hand-drive models. The newly launched six-seat hybrid SUV marks its global debut, with the vehicle set to enter markets including Indonesia and Argentina this month.
"Final pricing for each market will be announced at the time of local launch," Gong said, adding that the E5 Plus could make a "meaningful contribution" to the company's revenue this year, which could see "strong growth" compared with last year.
Joe Zhou, deputy general manager of DSFK's overseas sales and service division, said the company would soon roll out the E5 Plus in other regions including Latin America, the Americas, the Philippines, the Middle East and Central Asia.
Zeekr, the premium electric vehicle brand owned by Geely Auto, used the Hong Kong auto expo to showcase its right-hand-drive ambitions in Southeast Asia.
Right-hand-drive markets such as Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong and Australia will be the brand's "key focus markets", said Mars Chen, chief marketing officer of Zeekr International.
A right-hand-drive version of Zeekr's 009 Glory was expected to reach Hong Kong in the fourth quarter of the this year.
The newly announced four-seat version of the 009 Glory was expected to cost upwards of HK$1 million (4.2 million baht) in Hong Kong, according to Chen.
