Neta has launched the Neta X compact SUV in Uzbekistan, marking its official entry into the Central Asian market.

Neta Auto, a subsidiary of Chinese electric vehicle (EV)company Hozon Auto, has entered the Uzbek automotive market, further expanding its international footprint.

The company launched the Neta X compact SUV (sport utility vehicle) in Uzbekistan on October 8, marking its official entry into the Central Asian market, according to an announcement yesterday.

At the launch event, Neta held a ceremony to deliver the Neta X to its first local owners.

The Neta X for Uzbek consumers features a charging port built specifically for the local market, Neta said, adding that the model can be charged from 30 percent to 80 percent in 30 minutes and has a range of up to 480 kilometers on a full charge.

The Neta X measures 4,619 mm in length, 1,860 mm in width and 1,628 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,770 mm, and is currently available in China at a starting price of RMB 89,800 ($12,680).

Neta will use Central Asian markets as a key hub in its international strategy and gradually expand across the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), it said.

Since launching its strategy to enter overseas markets in 2021, Neta's efforts in the global market have advanced rapidly.

Helped by the hot sales of the Neta X, Neta became the top-selling new car-making brand in Southeast Asia in the first half of 2024, the Chinese EV maker said.

Neta will continue to expand in Southeast Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa and Europe, it added.

Founded in October 2014, Neta announced its strategy to enter the Thai market in November 2021 and launched the right-hand drive version of the Neta V in August 2022 in the country.

The company saw its Thailand plant begin operations on November 30, 2023, with an annual capacity of 20,000 units.

On January 12, Neta signed a deal with a Malaysian partner to jointly build its local plant.

The company also has a plant in Indonesia, which began production on May 31.

Neta delivered 10,118 vehicles in September, a decrease of 23.41 percent year-on-year and 8.06 percent lower than in August, according to data it announced on October 1.

In the third quarter Neta delivered 32,138 vehicles, down 9.09 percent year-on-year but up 9.55 percent from 29,336 in the second quarter.

Year to date, Neta has delivered 85,908 vehicles, a decrease of 12.13 percent year-on-year.

($1 = RMB 7.0809)

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