Workers assemble electric cars at a Vinfast factory in Hai Phong, Vietnam, on Sept. 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Hau Dinh)
HANOI: Domestic car production has surged as Vietnam emerged as a new auto manufacturing hub for international brands, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).
Automobile output in Vietnam rose sharply in the first months of 2025, compared to the same period last year, as many global carmakers selected the country as a destination for new manufacturing facilities.
In early 2025, Vietnam’s automotive industry recorded strong momentum.
According to GSO data, 36,700 vehicles were manufactured in March alone.
Total output for the first quarter of 2025 reached approximately 106,400 units – an increase of 81.5% compared to the same period in 2024, nearly doubling year-on-year (y-o-y) growth.
Earlier, domestic automobile production had slowed slightly in February due to the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday, which caused a temporary dip in both supply and demand.
Sales figures from the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association showed that by the end of February, 40,499 vehicles had been sold in Vietnam.
This included 20,187 domestically assembled units – up 23% y-o-y – and 20,312 imported vehicles, marking a 41% increase.
VinFast, the country’s leading electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, reported nearly 23,000 EVs sold domestically during the first two months of 2025.
The company remains one of the few car manufacturers with an entire assembly line at a local facility in Vietnam.
In recent decades, Vietnam has been home to manufacturing plants for several major auto brands, including Toyota, Hyundai, Ford, Kia, Mazda, Wuling and Suzuki, as well as luxury marques such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW.
Czech automaker Skoda recently inaugurated its factory in Quang Ninh Province, with the Skoda Kushaq being the first model produced at the facility.
Chinese brands Omoda and Jaecoo, both part of Chery Group, are also set to begin production in Vietnam.
Meanwhile, Geely and Lynk & Co, in partnership with Vietnamese conglomerate Tasco, prepared to break ground on a new plant.
Chery identified Vietnam and Malaysia as key locations in its global manufacturing network, positioning Vietnam as its primary production hub in South-East Asia.
In October 2024, Hyundai Thanh Cong exported its fourth batch of Hyundai Palisade sports utility vehicles to Thailand, bringing the total number of units delivered to that market to 110.
Prior to Hyundai’s efforts, local manufacturers such as VinFast and Thaco had already begun exporting vehicles to countries in South-East Asia, and entered markets across the Pacific, including the United States and Canada. — Viet Nam News/ANN
