On October 26, the groundbreaking ceremony for Haier Washing Machine's Rayong factory in Thailand was held at the WHA ESIE 5 Industrial Estate in Rayong Province. Representative of the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT), joined representatives from the Rayong Provincial Government, the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI), Chinese institutions in Thailand, chamber of commerce leaders, partners, and media at the site to witness this important milestone.
As Haier Washing Machine's largest intelligent factory overseas, the new Rayong plant covers approximately 326 mu (about 54 acres), with a planned total annual capacity of 3 million units. Phase I involves an investment of USD 150 million and a planned annual capacity of 1 million units. Integrating R&D, production and sales, the project will focus on localizing production of the MultiWash series and X-series high-end washing machines, achieving an upgrade from "Made in Thailand" to "Global High-End." For Haier Washing Machine, the factory fills the gap in the brand's local manufacturing in Thailand; for Haier Smart Home, it is a key move to step up its presence in the Southeast Asian market and deepen its global layout; and for China-Thailand economic and trade cooperation, once completed, the project will create over a thousand local jobs, drive the clustering of upstream and downstream industries, and set a new benchmark for China-Thailand industrial cooperation.
Currently, Haier Washing Machine's overall brand growth in Thailand leads the industry, with its share of the ultra-high-end market exceeding 20%. With a population of approximately 70 million and an urbanization rate of 61.9%, Thailand is a core hub market for home appliances in Southeast Asia. As urbanization continues to advance and household structures evolve, local user demand for premium segment-based laundry care and health-oriented fabric protection continues to rise. For a long time, Thailand's high-end washing machine supply has largely relied on cross-border imports, resulting in long delivery cycles that struggle to match local families' demand for refined laundry care.
Once operational, the factory will fill the gap in localized supply of high-end laundry care in Thailand. Global premium models such as the MultiWash series and X series will achieve local mass production. Supported by fully automated intelligent production lines, the factory will shorten supply chain cycles and quickly respond to Thai families' demand for premium, health-oriented laundry care. The MultiWash features an integrated "main drum + dual mini drums" design, enabling simultaneous segment-based washing of underwear, outerwear, and baby clothes to prevent cross-contamination at the source. The X series is equipped with Air Cruise technology and Essence Wash, delivering efficient cleaning and long-lasting antibacterial protection, eliminating odors inside the drum, and offering a differentiated premium laundry care experience.
Leveraging Thailand's geographical advantages and free trade policy benefits, the new factory will be positioned to serve Thailand, radiate across ASEAN, and serve global markets. It will operate in efficient coordination with Haier's 22 major laundry care factories worldwide, enabling flexible capacity and order synergy. This will allow the company to quickly capture incremental market opportunities in Southeast Asia while continuously delivering premium "Made in Thailand" products. Going forward, Haier Smart Home will continue to deepen its presence in core markets through localized intelligent manufacturing and amplify its competitive advantages through global synergy, delivering smart home appliance solutions tailored to local lifestyles for users worldwide.