Chinese automaker GAC’s new electric vehicle manufacturing plant has started operations in Jakarta with its annual production capacity set to grow from 20,??? ?? ?? ???000 units to 50,000 units as it aims to supply the entire Southeast Asia region. The first vehicle rolling off the assembly line was the Aion V midsize crossover, the first global model under GAC’s EV marque and one with a driving range of 650 kilometers (404 miles); other models such as a seven-seater van are also in the pipeline. The news comes after GAC, a manufacturing partner of Toyota and Honda in China, opened its first completely knocked down (CKD) factory overseas for producing gasoline vehicles in Malaysia last May. The company also has production facilities in Nigeria and Thailand, with plans to set up another one in Brazil next year. [GAC release]