Vietnamese electric vehicle manufacturer VINFAST is poised to inaugurate its inaugural manufacturing facility in India, focusing on EV battery production in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The Thoothukudi-based plant will specifically manufacture batteries for electric vehicles, distinct from VINFAST’s previously announced plans to assemble vehicles using parts shipped from Vietnam.
VINFAST, a competitor to car manufacturers like Tesla and China’s BYD, has not officially commented on the matter, and an announcement regarding the new plant is anticipated in the coming days. The company stated it would reveal detailed plans “at an appropriate time.”
In September, Reuters reported VINFAST’s initiation of hiring processes for sales, legal, and back-office positions in India, seeking individuals with a spirit of innovation and resilience.
Details about the investment size and the operational commencement of the VinFast factory in Tamil Nadu are not immediately available.
In October, VINFAST announced plans to establish assembly factories in India and Indonesia, each with a capacity of up to 50,000 cars annually and an initial capital expenditure of up to $200 million. Production is set to commence in 2026.
Additionally, Green SM, an electric vehicle taxi operator largely owned by VINFAST’s founder, expressed intentions to enter the Indian market, the world’s third-largest automotive market, as revealed by VinFast CEO Le Thi Thu Thuy in October.
