Liebao to build SE Asia plant

Hunan Liebao Automobile Co Ltd is planning to set up its first overseas facility in an ASEAN country in 2018, a move to facilitate its expansion in Southeast Asian markets, according to the company's chairman.

Chairman Liu Kanglin said: "Now the time is right for us to seek opportunities abroad, and ASEAN countries will be our first step toward the international market."

The three-year-old automaker expects to double its sales this year, building on last year's strong performance, Liu told a group of 20 journalists from Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states on a visit to the company in Changsha, Hunan province, which was organized by the ASEAN-China Center.