VinFast Auto has announced its plans to initiate construction at its comprehensive electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing facility in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, on February 25, 2024. This significant development underscores the deepening strategic alliance between VinFast and the Tamil Nadu State Government, which is focused on promoting the growth of eco-friendly transportation in India and the surrounding region.
The partnership between VinFast and the Tamil Nadu Government was formalized with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on January 6, 2024. The collaboration is set to involve a planned investment of USD 500 million for the initial phase of the integrated EV facility, with the project spanning five years from its inception. This initiative marks a critical step in VinFast’s global expansion strategy as the company ventures into one of the world’s most rapidly expanding major economies and its flourishing EV market. The commencement of construction at the EV manufacturing plant, just over a month after the MoU announcement, reflects VinFast’s strong commitment and swift execution in its international growth plans.
The integrated EV manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu is expected to generate approximately 3,000 to 3,500 local employment opportunities. VinFast’s project in Tamil Nadu is envisioned to evolve into a premier electric vehicle production hub in the region, boasting an annual production capacity of up to 150,000 units at full capacity. The facility is designed to cater to the Indian market, as well as to export to South Asian, Middle Eastern, and African countries.
Furthermore, the project is poised to play a pivotal role in advancing the development of green transportation, aligning with the Indian government’s and various states’ agenda to reduce carbon emissions in the transportation sector. The goal is to have 30% of newly registered private cars be electric vehicles.