It’s not just about assembling and manufacturing vehicles in Vietnam; THACO, Hyundai Thanh Cong, and VinFast are also exporting cars overseas, propelling Vietnamese automotive brands onto the global stage.
Exporting automobiles is significant not only for the businesses involved but also for the country and its auxiliary industries. It expands markets, increases productivity, optimizes costs, and enhances quality. Consequently, domestic consumers gain access to better vehicles at more reasonable prices.
THACO AUTO
THACO, which began as an auto repair workshop and imported car dealership in Bien Hoa, Dong Nai, in 1997, has evolved into one of Vietnam’s largest conglomerates.
Following a restructuring in 2021, THACO AUTO adopted a group model (Sub-Holding) specializing in the import, assembly, production, distribution, retail, and auto repair sectors.
Currently, THACO AUTO distributes a comprehensive range of vehicles, including passenger cars, buses, trucks, and specialized vehicles from renowned international brands (KIA, Mazda, Peugeot, BMW, Foton, and Mitsubishi Fuso) and its own THACO brand (THACO BUS). Notably, the company also invests in developing specialized vehicles tailored to specific industries and urban electric vehicles, along with smart transportation solutions.
THACO AUTO boasts an extensive auto retail network spanning Vietnam, with over 400 authorized showrooms and service workshops from north to south.
THACO’s automobile and motorcycle assembly complex is located in the THACO Chu Lai Industrial Park (Quang Nam) and comprises the following factories: THACO KIA, THACO MAZDA, LUXURY CAR, Premium Passenger and Specialized Vehicle, Motorcycle, THACO BUS, and THACO TRUCK.
Over the years, THACO AUTO has exported various Kia models, including the Kia Cerato, Sedona, and Carnival, to Thailand and Myanmar. THACO-branded buses have been exported to Thailand and the Philippines, while Foton/Forland trucks have found their way to Cambodia.
In 2024, THACO exported nearly 1,200 vehicles, generating $13 million in revenue.
At the beginning of 2025, THACO AUTO shipped 120 Kia Frontier trucks to the Middle East, 400 painted body sets of the Kia New Carnival to India, and 45 Peugeot Django 150cc motorcycles to Cambodia.
For 2025, THACO AUTO aims to supply nearly 4,200 vehicles to the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Oman, the Middle East, Jordan, and Cambodia. The group will focus on increasing exports of THACO-branded buses and trucks, as well as international brand passenger cars, in line with partner requirements. Additionally, THACO AUTO intends to expand into other potential markets.
Hyundai Thanh Cong
In December 2023, Hyundai Thanh Cong Thuong Mai (HTCV) successfully exported 62 Hyundai Mighty N250 light trucks to Peru.
Simultaneously, HTCV exported 60 Hyundai Solati 16-seat mini-buses to the Philippines, bringing the total number of vehicles exported in 2023 to 122.
In October 2024, Hyundai Thanh Cong Vietnam (HTMV) – a joint venture between TC Group (Thanh Cong Group) and Hyundai Motor – held a ceremony to export Palisade SUVs to Thailand. This was the fourth batch exported in October, bringing the total number of Palisade SUVs exported to 110 units.
In addition to the Palisade, which is Hyundai’s most luxurious SUV, the company plans to expand exports of vehicles in other segments to regional markets such as Myanmar, the Philippines, Indonesia, and other Southeast Asian countries.
VinFast
Vingroup entered the automotive industry in 2017 and introduced its first combustion engine models, the Lux A2.0 and LUX SA2.0, in 2018.
By the end of 2022, VinFast had announced its decision to discontinue the production of combustion engine vehicles and focus solely on electric cars.
In October 2021, VinFast unveiled its first domestically produced electric car, the VF e34.
In November 2022, VinFast held a ceremony to export its first batch of electric vehicles to international markets. This shipment of 999 VinFast VF 8 cars was destined for the US market and transported on the chartered ship Silver Queen of Panama. After about 20 days of sailing from MPC Port in the Dinh Vu-Cat Hai Economic Zone, Hai Phong City, the vehicles arrived at the port of California, USA, and were delivered to the first customers in December 2022.
This was the first batch of vehicles exported to international markets out of 65,000 global orders for VinFast VF 8 and VF 9 electric cars. Immediately after the US market, VinFast continued to export subsequent batches to Canada and Europe.
In August 2023, VinFast made its debut on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, becoming a globally recognized publicly traded company. With a market capitalization of over $23 billion, the company operates under the legal entity VinFast Auto Ltd.
In 2024, VinFast achieved record-breaking sales in Vietnam, delivering over 87,000 vehicles. The company also successfully built a comprehensive electric vehicle ecosystem, encompassing battery production, charging station development, and the expansion of international offices.
As of the end of June 2024, VinFast had established a distribution network of 130 showrooms (including company-owned and dealer-owned) and provided access to 950,000 charging ports worldwide (including company-owned ports in Vietnam and partner networks in North America and Europe).
VinFast currently operates a factory in Hai Phong with a designed capacity of 300,000 units per year and is constructing another factory in Subang, West Java, Indonesia. The Indonesian factory is expected to commence operations in the fourth quarter of 2025, producing the VF 3, VF 5, VF 6, and VF 7 models with right-hand drive configurations.
New Zealand Prime Minister: “VinFast Electric Vehicles Could Sell Well in New Zealand”
“A simple switch from right-hand to left-hand drive is all it takes for VinFast electric vehicles to conquer the New Zealand market,” shared New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, following his test drive of VinFast’s electric vehicles during his visit to Vingroup’s headquarters in Hanoi on February 27, 2025.
Why Buy? The VinFast Electric Car with Battery Offers a Massive Advantage of 181 Million VND from March 2025.
After the announcement regarding the cessation of the battery leasing policy for VinFast’s electric car and motorcycle brands, dealers have revealed adjusted prices for most of the VinFast electric vehicle range distributed in Vietnam.
VinFast Announces Price Adjustment on Select Models, Offering Savings of Up to VND 181 Million Starting March 1st
“VinFast, the prominent electric vehicle manufacturer, has recently announced a significant update to its pricing strategy. Starting from the beginning of March, a new pricing structure will be implemented across its range of electric vehicles, marking an important development for the brand and its customers alike.”
“VinFast Signs Mou with Motech to Tap into their Service Network in the Philippines”
VinFast and Motech Auto Center, through its operating franchise in the Philippines, have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to expand the service network for VinFast electric vehicles in the market.
The Vietnamese Auto Market Continues to Shatter Sales Records
The recent reduction in registration fees has had a positive impact on Vietnam’s auto sales, heating up the race for the top spot in the market in 2024.
