Major Chinese automaker Geely is in the early stages of planning to enter Thailand’s electric vehicle (EV) market, including weighing models for import and local production, according to two people familiar with the discussions.

Discussions are underway over whether to sell an entry-level electric car in Thailand, as well as an electric pickup truck under the new Radar brand.

The Thailand Investment Board held talks with five major Chinese electric car makers, including Geely, during a road show in China in April.

BYD Co Ltd, Chongqing Changan Automobile Co Ltd, JAC Motors and Jiangling Motors Corp Ltd were among them, according to the agency.

Thailand, the world’s tenth-largest automaker, is seeking new investment as it seeks to protect and diversify a manufacturing base that has relied heavily on Japanese brands and internal combustion engines.

According to a government plan, the country intends to switch about 30 percent of its annual production of 2.5 million cars to electric vehicles by 2030.

BYD and China’s Great Wall Motor Co Ltd are already working on setting up a local EV production facility in Thailand.

Discussions with Geely have encountered additional complications because the company has granted work-level autonomy to its operating groups at the brand level, such as Geometry and Radar Auto.

Thailand offers some subsidies for electric cars, as long as automakers pledge to set up production of cars and parts in the country within a few years.

Geely, which owns a portfolio of brands including Swedish carmaker Volvo, Polestar, Lotus and Zeekr, doubled its stake in luxury car maker Aston Martin in May.

The company also has a presence in Southeast Asia, owning a 49.9 percent stake in Malaysian automaker Proton.

Geometry is an electric car brand that Geely launched in 2019. Sales in China nearly tripled in 2022 with the Geometry A sedan. In February, Geely began shipping the Radar RD6, China’s first mass-market electric pickup.

China’s Great Wall Motor said it is considering establishing a research and development center in Thailand that could work on battery-powered pickups.

Pickup trucks are an important part of Thailand’s auto market, accounting for more than half of total light vehicle sales last year, a segment dominated by Japanese automakers including Toyota Motor Corp and Isuzu Motors Ltd.