HẢI PHÒNG — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc attended a ceremony in the northern port city of Hải Phòng on September 2 to start the construction of the first Vietnamese automobile manufacturing complex in Đình Vũ – Cát Hải economic zone. 

Invested by Vinfast manufacturing and trade Ltd company - an affiliate of real estate developer Vingroup, the complex is expected to roll out a five-seater sedan model, a seven-seater sport utility vehicle model, and electric motorbike meeting European standards during the first stage. The designed capacity is estimated at 100,000 – 200,000 vehicles per year. 

Its first product in the next 12 month will be electric motorbike model while automobiles will be made in the next 24 months. 

The complex will cover a site of 335ha with five major workshops. Design of engines and major components will be bought from top European and US designers while exterior shape will be designed by famous Italian studios that were behind luxury cars such as Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, Jaguar, Porsche, Rolls-Royce, among others. 

Vinfast will use advanced and eco-friendly technologies, particularly green energy, to meet Euro 5.0 and Euro 6.0 emission standards. 

In order to make itself a leading automobile manufacturer in Southeast Asia with a designed capacity of 500,000 units by 2025, Vinfast signed a memorandum of understanding with Credit Suisse AG regarding a loan worth US$800 million. 

Vinfast will also work with Vietnamese partners to manufacture spare parts, towards raising the rate of locally-made products to 60 per cent. 

Speaking at the event, PM Phúc said the project could generate 20,000 jobs and contribute to the province’s State budget. 

The birth of Vinfast complex marks Việt Nam’s position in the map of the world automobile manufacturers, and Vingroup’s foray into heavy industry apart from its six core areas of real estate, tourism-entertainment, retail, health, education and agriculture. — VNS